dcsimg

Associations

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Foodplant / miner
larva of Agromyza cinerascens mines leaf of Dactylis glomerata
Other: major host/prey

In Great Britain and/or Ireland:
Foodplant / saprobe
colony of Arthrinium dematiaceous anamorph of Apiospora montagnei is saprobic on dead leaf of Dactylis glomerata

Plant / resting place / on
male of Aptinothrips stylifer may be found on live Dactylis glomerata
Remarks: season: 6-9
Other: major host/prey

Foodplant / spot causer
immersed pycnidium of Ascochyta coelomycetous anamorph of Ascochyta gracilispora causes spots on live leaf of Dactylis glomerata
Remarks: season: 2-5

Foodplant / saprobe
1-3 in rows, black, subepidermal pycnidium of Diplodina coelomycetous anamorph of Ascochyta graminea is saprobic on culm of Dactylis glomerata
Remarks: season: 9-12

Foodplant / parasite
Blumeria graminis parasitises live Dactylis glomerata

Plant / resting place / on
puparium of Cerodontha flavocingulata may be found on leaf of Dactylis glomerata
Other: major host/prey

Plant / resting place / within
puparium of Cerodontha pygmaea may be found in leaf-mine of Dactylis glomerata
Other: major host/prey

Foodplant / pathogen
Cladochytrium caespitis infects and damages rotten root of Dactylis glomerata

Foodplant / gall
stroma of Epichlo causes gall of stem of Dactylis glomerata
Remarks: season: fertile in 8

Foodplant / pathogen
colony of Fusarium anamorph of Fusarium poae infects and damages ear of Dactylis glomerata

Plant / associate
fruitbody of Gymnopilus flavus is associated with Dactylis glomerata
Other: major host/prey

Foodplant / saprobe
superficial stroma of Hypocrea spinulosa is saprobic on decaying stem of Dactylis glomerata
Remarks: season: 8-11

Foodplant / saprobe
scattered, subiculate, immersed becoming superficial perithecium of Lasiosphaeria dactylina is saprobic on culm of Dactylis glomerata
Remarks: season: 4-8

Foodplant / saprobe
Alternaria dematiaceous anamorph of Lewia infectoria is saprobic on dead, fungus infected leaf of Dactylis glomerata

Foodplant / parasite
fruitbody of Limonomyces culmigenus parasitises live Dactylis glomerata
Other: major host/prey

Foodplant / spot causer
colony of Mastigosporium anamorph of Mastigosporium muticum causes spots on live leaf of Dactylis glomerata
Remarks: season: 9-10

Foodplant / spot causer
colony of Mastigosporium anamorph of Mastigosporium rubricosum causes spots on live leaf of Dactylis glomerata

Foodplant / saprobe
colony of Cercosporidium dematiaceous anamorph of Mycosphaerella recutita is saprobic on dead sheath of Dactylis glomerata

Plant / associate
adult of Oulema erichsoni is associated with Dactylis glomerata
Remarks: season: 5-7

Foodplant / parasite
telium of Puccinia graminis f.sp. avenae parasitises live sheath of Dactylis glomerata

Foodplant / sap sucker
Rhopalus parumpunctatus sucks sap of seed of Dactylis glomerata

Foodplant / saprobe
numerous, in lines, immersed pycnidium of Stagonospora coelomycetous anamorph of Stagonospora subseriata is saprobic on dead, dry leaf of Dactylis glomerata

Foodplant / open feeder
nocturnal larva of Tenthredo maculata grazes on leaf of Dactylis glomerata

Foodplant / open feeder
nocturnal larva of Tenthredopsis litterata grazes on leaf of Dactylis glomerata
Other: major host/prey

Foodplant / open feeder
nocturnal larva of Tenthredopsis nassata grazes on leaf of Dactylis glomerata
Other: major host/prey

Foodplant / saprobe
fruitbody of Typhula incarnata is saprobic on dying stem of Dactylis glomerata

Foodplant / parasite
mainly hypophyllous telium of Uromyces dactylidis parasitises live leaf of Dactylis glomerata

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Comments

provided by eFloras
An excellent fodder grass. 1700-4000 m.

Cock’s-foot, Cockspur, Barnyard or Orchard Grass is a very variable species which, owing to its agricultural importance has been studied intensively in some parts of its range. It includes diploids (2n = 14) and tetraploids (2n = 28) which can usually be distinguished from one another by the size of their stomata and pollen-grains. In other characters there appears to be parallel variation; Many of the variants have been given specific or subspecific rank (see Domin in Acta bot. bohem. 14:3-147. 1943), but most of them do not seem to be clearly distinguish-able except by chromosome number, average characteristics of populations and behaviour in cultivation. No attempt has been made to resolve the infraspecific taxa in Pakistan and Kashmir, but the following intergrading subspecies have been distinguished:

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Missouri Botanical Garden, 4344 Shaw Boulevard, St. Louis, MO, 63110 USA
bibliographic citation
Flora of Pakistan Vol. 0: 436 in eFloras.org, Missouri Botanical Garden. Accessed Nov 12, 2008.
source
Flora of Pakistan @ eFloras.org
editor
S. I. Ali & M. Qaiser
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Comments

provided by eFloras
This is an important pasture and forage grass that has been widely introduced into temperate and subtropical regions throughout the world (Cocksfoot, Orchard Grass).

The typical form, subsp. glomerata (2n = 28), has a relatively compact panicle, broad spikelet fascicles, and conspicuously ciliate lemma keels. Other forms, widespread in China and the Himalayas, have a looser panicle with long flexuose branches, narrower spikelet fascicles, and only minutely ciliolate lemma keels. The names subsp. sinensis, subsp. himalayensis, and the European name subsp. slovenica (Domin) Domin have been applied to these forms. A chromosome count of 2n = 14 has been recorded for subsp. himalayensis. The basis of this variation, the correct application of these names, and their relationship to similar variants from outside China are not yet understood.

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Missouri Botanical Garden, 4344 Shaw Boulevard, St. Louis, MO, 63110 USA
bibliographic citation
Flora of China Vol. 22: 310 in eFloras.org, Missouri Botanical Garden. Accessed Nov 12, 2008.
source
Flora of China @ eFloras.org
editor
Wu Zhengyi, Peter H. Raven & Hong Deyuan
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Comments

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Widely naturalized or cultivated in North America and southern Africa.
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Missouri Botanical Garden, 4344 Shaw Boulevard, St. Louis, MO, 63110 USA
bibliographic citation
Gramineae (Poaceae) in Flora of Taiwan Vol. 0 in eFloras.org, Missouri Botanical Garden. Accessed Nov 12, 2008.
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Poaceae in Flora of Taiwan @ eFloras.org
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Chang-Sheng Kuoh
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Description

provided by eFloras
Coarsely tufted perennial; culms 15-100 (-200) cm high, erect or spreading, slender to stout, the vegetative shoots strongly compressed. Leaf-blades 10-45 cm long, 2-14 mm wide, folded at first, glabrous; sheaths strongly compressed and keeled; ligule 2-10 mm long, acute or lacerate. Panicle oblong to ovate, 2-30 cm long, the branches close together and spike-like or usually with the lower distant and bare at the base. Spikelets oblong or wedge-shaped, 5-9 mm long; glumes lanceolate to ovate, ciliate on the keel, finely pointed; lemma lanceolate to oblong in side view, 4-7 mm long, the keel ciliate or rough, tipped with a rigid awn up to 1.5 mm long.
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copyright
Missouri Botanical Garden, 4344 Shaw Boulevard, St. Louis, MO, 63110 USA
bibliographic citation
Flora of Pakistan Vol. 0: 436 in eFloras.org, Missouri Botanical Garden. Accessed Nov 12, 2008.
source
Flora of Pakistan @ eFloras.org
editor
S. I. Ali & M. Qaiser
project
eFloras.org
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Description

provided by eFloras
Perennial, coarse. Culms solitary or tufted, erect or geniculate at base, 40–140 cm tall. Leaf sheaths strongly keeled; leaf blades flat, (6–)10–30 cm × 4–9 mm, abaxial surface scabrid along midrib and margin; ligule 4–8 mm. Panicle oblong to ovate in outline, 5–15 cm; branches single or rarely paired at base, (3–)5–15 cm, horizontal or ascending, lower part naked, upper part with dense fascicles of spikelets. Spikelets oblong to wedge-shaped, 5–9 mm, florets closely overlapping, green or purplish; glumes 4–5(–6.5) mm, scabrid or ciliolate along keel, margins membranous, apex acute to acuminate; lemmas 4–7 mm, lowest subequal to spikelet, scabrid or flanks short-pilose, apex with stout awn up to 1.5 mm. Anthers ca. 2.5 mm. Fl. and fr. May–Aug. 2n = 14, 28, 42.
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Missouri Botanical Garden, 4344 Shaw Boulevard, St. Louis, MO, 63110 USA
bibliographic citation
Flora of China Vol. 22: 310 in eFloras.org, Missouri Botanical Garden. Accessed Nov 12, 2008.
source
Flora of China @ eFloras.org
editor
Wu Zhengyi, Peter H. Raven & Hong Deyuan
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eFloras.org
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Description

provided by eFloras
Densely tufted perennial, with short rhizome. Culm up to 1 m tall, 3 mm in diameter. Blade 20 cm long, 5 mm wide, minutely hispid on nerves; ligule 5 mm long, truncate, membranous. Panicle loose, up to 9 cm long, branches single, rarely binate; Spikelet 2-4-flowered, 7 mm long; glumes lanceolate, weakly 2-3-nerved, hairy on lateral nerves; the lower chartaceous, 4 mm long; the upper subcoriaceous, 5 mm long; lemma lanceolate, 5.5 mm long, chartaceous, 5-nerved, with a short awn at the apex, hairy on back and margins; palea chartaceous, narrowly lanceolate, 2-keeled, minutely ciliate on keels, margins folded and overlapping; anther 2 mm long.
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Missouri Botanical Garden, 4344 Shaw Boulevard, St. Louis, MO, 63110 USA
bibliographic citation
Gramineae (Poaceae) in Flora of Taiwan Vol. 0 in eFloras.org, Missouri Botanical Garden. Accessed Nov 12, 2008.
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Poaceae in Flora of Taiwan @ eFloras.org
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Chang-Sheng Kuoh
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Distribution

provided by eFloras
Distribution: Pakistan (Punjab, N.W.F.P., Gilgit & Kashmir); temperate Europe and Asia; introduced into most temperate countries.
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Missouri Botanical Garden, 4344 Shaw Boulevard, St. Louis, MO, 63110 USA
bibliographic citation
Flora of Pakistan Vol. 0: 436 in eFloras.org, Missouri Botanical Garden. Accessed Nov 12, 2008.
source
Flora of Pakistan @ eFloras.org
editor
S. I. Ali & M. Qaiser
project
eFloras.org
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Distribution

provided by eFloras
Gansu, Guizhou, Hubei, Ningxia, Shaanxi, Sichuan, Taiwan, Xinjiang, Xizang, Yunnan, Zhejiang; cultivated in Hebei, Henan, Jiangsu, Shandong [Bhutan, N India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Nepal, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkestan, Uzbekistan; N Africa, SW Asia, Europe].
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Missouri Botanical Garden, 4344 Shaw Boulevard, St. Louis, MO, 63110 USA
bibliographic citation
Flora of China Vol. 22: 310 in eFloras.org, Missouri Botanical Garden. Accessed Nov 12, 2008.
source
Flora of China @ eFloras.org
editor
Wu Zhengyi, Peter H. Raven & Hong Deyuan
project
eFloras.org
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Distribution

provided by eFloras
Originally distributed in Europe, North Africa and temperate Asia.
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Missouri Botanical Garden, 4344 Shaw Boulevard, St. Louis, MO, 63110 USA
bibliographic citation
Gramineae (Poaceae) in Flora of Taiwan Vol. 0 in eFloras.org, Missouri Botanical Garden. Accessed Nov 12, 2008.
source
Poaceae in Flora of Taiwan @ eFloras.org
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Chang-Sheng Kuoh
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eFloras.org
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Distribution

provided by eFloras
Europe, N. Africa, temperate Asia.
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Missouri Botanical Garden, 4344 Shaw Boulevard, St. Louis, MO, 63110 USA
bibliographic citation
Annotated Checklist of the Flowering Plants of Nepal Vol. 0 in eFloras.org, Missouri Botanical Garden. Accessed Nov 12, 2008.
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Annotated Checklist of the Flowering Plants of Nepal @ eFloras.org
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K.K. Shrestha, J.R. Press and D.A. Sutton
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Elevation Range

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3200-3700 m
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Missouri Botanical Garden, 4344 Shaw Boulevard, St. Louis, MO, 63110 USA
bibliographic citation
Annotated Checklist of the Flowering Plants of Nepal Vol. 0 in eFloras.org, Missouri Botanical Garden. Accessed Nov 12, 2008.
source
Annotated Checklist of the Flowering Plants of Nepal @ eFloras.org
author
K.K. Shrestha, J.R. Press and D.A. Sutton
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Flower/Fruit

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Fl. & Fr. Per.: July-August.
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Missouri Botanical Garden, 4344 Shaw Boulevard, St. Louis, MO, 63110 USA
bibliographic citation
Flora of Pakistan Vol. 0: 436 in eFloras.org, Missouri Botanical Garden. Accessed Nov 12, 2008.
source
Flora of Pakistan @ eFloras.org
editor
S. I. Ali & M. Qaiser
project
eFloras.org
original
visit source
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eFloras

Habitat

provided by eFloras
Mountain slopes, light forest shade, other grassy places; 1400–3600 m.
license
cc-by-nc-sa-3.0
copyright
Missouri Botanical Garden, 4344 Shaw Boulevard, St. Louis, MO, 63110 USA
bibliographic citation
Flora of China Vol. 22: 310 in eFloras.org, Missouri Botanical Garden. Accessed Nov 12, 2008.
source
Flora of China @ eFloras.org
editor
Wu Zhengyi, Peter H. Raven & Hong Deyuan
project
eFloras.org
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Synonym

provided by eFloras
Dactylis altaica Besser; D. glomerata subsp. altaica (Besser) Domin; D. glomerata var. altaica (Besser) Keng; D. glom-erata subsp. sinensis A. Camus; D. glomerata subsp. himalay-ensis Domin.
license
cc-by-nc-sa-3.0
copyright
Missouri Botanical Garden, 4344 Shaw Boulevard, St. Louis, MO, 63110 USA
bibliographic citation
Flora of China Vol. 22: 310 in eFloras.org, Missouri Botanical Garden. Accessed Nov 12, 2008.
source
Flora of China @ eFloras.org
editor
Wu Zhengyi, Peter H. Raven & Hong Deyuan
project
eFloras.org
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Common Names

provided by Fire Effects Information System Plants
orchardgrass
cocksfoot (European)
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bibliographic citation
Sullivan, Janet. 1992. Dactylis glomerata. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/

Description

provided by Fire Effects Information System Plants
More info for the terms: cool-season, spikelet

Orchardgrass is a cool-season, perennial bunchgrass, 1.4 to 4 feet
(0.5-1.2 m ) tall with erect, glabrous culms and blades 4 to 16 inches
(10-40 cm) long and 0.1 to 0.5 inch (0.2-1.1 cm) wide.  The
inflorescence is a panicle with two to six florets per spikelet, with
the spikelets tightly clustered on one side of the branch.  Orchardgrass
is nonrhizomatous [21].  Most root development is in the upper 3 inches
(8 cm) of soil but extends to at least 18 inches (46 cm) below the
surface [23], producing a dense sod of medium-sized roots [26].
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bibliographic citation
Sullivan, Janet. 1992. Dactylis glomerata. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/

Distribution

provided by Fire Effects Information System Plants
Orchardgrass was introduced to the eastern United States from Europe in
1760.  It is widely planted in the United States and Canada, and is
found from Nova Scotia south to the Carolinas, west to central
California, and north to coastal British Columbia [21,67].
 
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cc-publicdomain
bibliographic citation
Sullivan, Janet. 1992. Dactylis glomerata. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/

Fire Ecology

provided by Fire Effects Information System Plants
More info for the term: fire regime

NO-ENTRY

FIRE REGIMES :
Find fire regime information for the plant communities in which this
species may occur by entering the species name in the FEIS home page under
"Find FIRE REGIMES".
license
cc-publicdomain
bibliographic citation
Sullivan, Janet. 1992. Dactylis glomerata. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/

Fire Management Considerations

provided by Fire Effects Information System Plants
More info for the terms: cover, fire intensity, fire management, forbs, forest, frequency, fuel, fuel moisture, grassland, habitat type, herbaceous, seed, severity, shrub, shrubs, tree, wildfire

Orchardgrass is frequently seeded onto areas disturbed by fire to
control soil erosion.  Concern has been raised that the increase of
grass species in the area, especially summer-dormant grasses such as
orchardgrass, could increase the risk of fast-spreading, low-intensity
fires that could set back the rate of tree and shrub regeneration.  The
application of seed to reduce erosion is, therefore, not always
beneficial [12,31].

Orchardgrass mixtures are recommended in the conversion of chaparral to
grassland to reduce fire intensity and frequency [6].


FIRE CASE STUDY
SPECIES: Dactylis glomerata
FIRE CASE STUDY CITATION :
Sullivan, Janet, compiler. 1992. Orchardgrass response to spring and fall burning
for wildlife habitat improvement in western Montana. In: Dactylis glomerata.
In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture,
Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer).
Available: https://www.fs.fed.us
/database/feis/ [
var months = new Array(12);
months[0] = "January";
months[1] = "February";
months[2] = "March";
months[3] = "April";
months[4] = "May";
months[5] = "June";
months[6] = "July";
months[7] = "August";
months[8] = "September";
months[9] = "October";
months[10] = "November";
months[11] = "December";
var date = new Date();
var year = date.getFullYear();
var month = date.getMonth();
var day = date.getDate();
document.write(year+", "+months[month]+" "+day);
].


REFERENCE :
Noste, Nonan V. 1982. Vegetation response to spring and fall burning for
wildlife habitat improvement. In: Baumgartner, David M., compiler &
editor. Site preparation and fuels management on steep terrain:
Proceedings of a symposium; 1982 February 15-17; Spokane, WA. Pullman,
WA: Washington State University, Cooperative Extension: 125-132. [51].


SEASON/SEVERITY CLASSIFICATION :
Spring- moderate severity
Fall -extreme severity


STUDY LOCATION :
Ten miles (16 km) north of Missoula, Montana, on a generally southeast
aspect below 4,920 feet (1,500 m).


PREFIRE VEGETATIVE COMMUNITY :
The study site had been previously burned by wildfire in 1945, which set
back the successional stage to a seral shrub community.  The habitat
type is Douglas-fir/ninebark (Pseudotsuga menziesii/Physocarpus
malvaceus).  This area remained unburned until 1979 (the year of the
prescribed burns), and the shrub species important for wildlife had
become decadent.

Herbaceous vegetation aerial crown cover averaged 19 percent prior to
the fall burn, and 24 percent prior to the spring burn.

Species present on the site prior to the spring burn were serviceberry
(Amelanchier alnifolia), evergreen ceanothus (Ceanothus velutinus,
creeping Oregon grape (Berberis repens), ninebark (Physocarpus
malvaceus), chokecherry (Prunus virginiana), Scouler willow (Salix
scouleriana), snowberry (Symphoricarpos albus), spreading dogbane
(Apocynum androsaemifolium), kinnikinnick (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi),
arrowleaf balsamroot (Balsamorhiza sagittata), pinegrass (Calamagrostis
rubescens), elk sedge (Carex geyeri), orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata),
and timothy (Phleum pratense).  Species present present prior to the
fall burned site included all of the above, except creeping Oregon
grape, spreading dogbane, arrowleaf balsamroot, kinnikinnick, and
timothy, but did include Douglas hawthorn (Crataegus douglasii) and
spotted knapweed (Centaurea maculosa).


TARGET SPECIES PHENOLOGICAL STATE :
The target species for this study was evergreen ceanothus (Ceanothus
velutinus), selected for its importance to wildlife.  A number of
species were monitored preburn and postburn.  Orchardgrass on the spring
burn site was in a green growing stage, not yet in flower.  On the fall
burn site, orchardgrass was generally dormant (tall dead material with a
green basal rosette).


SITE DESCRIPTION :
Both burned sites occurred on generally southeast aspect below 4,920
feet (1,500 m).  The slope averages 30 percent with a maximum of 50
percent.


FIRE DESCRIPTION :
Fuel loadings on the fall burn were greater than on the spring burn, but
fuel loadings on both sites were low.  The amount of fine fuel was
marginal for carrying the fire.

The fall fire prescription called for a "hot fire moving fast enough to
consume all grasses and forbs and kill the cambium at the stems of most
of the shrubs."  For the fall fire, rate of spread ranged from 40 chains
per hour on the lower slope to 56 chains per hour on the upper slope.
On the spring fire, rate of spread ranged from 10 chains per hour on the
mid-slope, 11 chains per hour on the upper slope to 18 chains per hour
on the lower slope.

Weather and fuel moisture conditions during the burn are shown in the
tables below:

Fine fuel moisture contents:

---------------------------------------
Transect                   Fuel
                    Dead          Live
---------------------------------------
                    ----(percent)-----
Fall fire             6             55
F1-4 upper slope      8             62
F1-2 mid slope        8             53
F1-1 lower slope

Spring fire
S1-2 upper slope      8             67
S1-3 mid slope        9            156
S1-1 lower slope     12            149
---------------------------------------


Weather conditions during the burn:

-----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                        Observations
                        -----------------------------------------------
                          Dry bulb      Relative            Wind
                         temperature    humidity          velocity
    Transect
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                       (deg F(deg C))   (percent)    (Mi/h)       (km/h)

Fall fire
F1-4 upper slope          59 (15)          30       6/gusts to 8    (10)
F1-2 mid slope            69 (20)          23       8               (13)
F1-1 lower slope          70 (21)          18       7/gusts to 12   (11)

Spring fire
S1-2 upper slope          65 (18)          36       5/gusts to 7    (8)
S1-3 mid slope            57 (14)          30       6/gusts to 10   (10)
S1-1 lower slope          62 (17)          37       6/gusts to 8    (10)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------


FIRE EFFECTS ON TARGET SPECIES :
In the 2 years following the spring burn, herbaceous aerial crown cover
averaged 21 to 22 percent.  In the 2 years following the fall burn,
average herbaceous aerial crown cover was 28 percent. Orchardgrass was
considered an important component of the preburn vegetation that
reproduced well.

Prior to the spring burn, orchardgrass provided 253 cubic feet per acre
(2.9 m3/ha) and in the following 2 years provided 45 cubic feet per acre
(0.52 m3/ha) and 654 cubic feet per acre (7.5 m3/ha) respectively.

Prior to the fall burn, orchardgrass is reported as 554 cubic feet per
acre (6.35 m3/ha), and in the years following the burn is reported as 30
and 134 cubic feet per acre (0.34 and 1.54 m3/ha), respectively.


FIRE MANAGEMENT IMPLICATIONS :
The fall burn was hotter and faster moving than the spring burn, and
apparently caused more damage to orchardgrass plants than did the spring
burn.  But even the greater severity of the fall burn did not result in
a complete removal of orchardgrass.  As is true of most perennial grass
species, orchardgrass is well adapted to recover after even severe
fires, although recovery is slower after severe burns or hot fires.  If
the management objective is to increase orchardgrass specifically (as
this study was not intended), then a less severe treatment, such as the
spring burn, would be recommended.
license
cc-publicdomain
bibliographic citation
Sullivan, Janet. 1992. Dactylis glomerata. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/

Fire Management Implications

provided by Fire Effects Information System Plants
More info for the term: severity

The fall burn was hotter and faster moving than the spring burn, and
apparently caused more damage to orchardgrass plants than did the spring
burn.  But even the greater severity of the fall burn did not result in
a complete removal of orchardgrass.  As is true of most perennial grass
species, orchardgrass is well adapted to recover after even severe
fires, although recovery is slower after severe burns or hot fires.  If
the management objective is to increase orchardgrass specifically (as
this study was not intended), then a less severe treatment, such as the
spring burn, would be recommended.

Growth Form (according to Raunkiær Life-form classification)

provided by Fire Effects Information System Plants
More info on this topic.

More info for the term: hemicryptophyte

  
   Hemicryptophyte
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cc-publicdomain
bibliographic citation
Sullivan, Janet. 1992. Dactylis glomerata. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/

Habitat characteristics

provided by Fire Effects Information System Plants
Orchardgrass is best adapted to well-drained, rich or moderately fertile
soils with an adequate water regime (12 inches or more annual
precipitation [30 cm]) [24,28,62,71] and temperatures that are not
extreme [4,28].  Optimum top growth is achieved at temperatures of
approximately 70 degrees Fahrenheit (21 deg C) [72].  Orchardgrass is
shade tolerant and does well at higher elevations in the western United
States and Canada (4,900 to 6,200 feet [1,500-1,900,m]) [28].  It is
widely planted in the eastern United States, most notably in
Pennsylvania, Maryland, and West Virginia [13].
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Sullivan, Janet. 1992. Dactylis glomerata. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/

Habitat: Ecosystem

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This species is known to occur in the following ecosystem types (as named by the U.S. Forest Service in their Forest and Range Ecosystem [FRES] Type classification):

More info for the term: shrub

   FRES11  Spruce - fir
   FRES19  Aspen - birch
   FRES20  Douglas-fir
   FRES21  Ponderosa pine
   FRES26  Lodgepole pine
   FRES29  Sagebrush
   FRES34  Chaparral - mountain shrub
   FRES36  Mountain grasslands
   FRES37  Mountain meadows
   FRES38  Plains grasslands
   FRES39  Prairie
   FRES40  Desert grasslands
   FRES41  Wet grasslands
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Sullivan, Janet. 1992. Dactylis glomerata. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/

Immediate Effect of Fire

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In general, bunchgrasses with large accumulations of dead material can
generate high temperatures for long periods of time after the fire has
passed.  This can reduce fire survival for older plants [73].
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Sullivan, Janet. 1992. Dactylis glomerata. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/

Importance to Livestock and Wildlife

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More info for the terms: cover, forest, natural

Orchardgrass is moderately nutritious and highly palatable to deer, elk,
bighorn sheep, cattle, and domestic sheep and goats.  The persistent,
green, basal rosette provides good winter forage for deer and elk
[14,50].  Early spring growth provides green forage for all species
[60].  Cattle will eat orchardgrass preferentially in early spring and
summer, up to 50 percent of total diet [59,65].  Elk and mule deer also
prefer orchardgrass over a number of other species [42].  In areas
disturbed by fire where orchardgrass has been seeded (usually in a
mixture with other grasses and forbs), wildlife use increases over
nonseeded areas and nonburned areas [19,42,44,50,58].  Forest openings,
where orchardgrass is dominant, are associated with rufous hummingbirds,
pine siskins, slate-colored juncos, American robins, valley pocket
gophers, desert harvest mice, deer mice, Mexican voles, and white-tailed
deer [56].  Grasshopper sparrows and eastern meadowlarks were more
abundant in cultivated fields in Georgia codominated by orchardgrass
than in fallow or natural fields [33].  Wild turkeys graze orchardgrass
in winter, and poults use it as a source of cover and insects in late
summer.  Rabbits use orchardgrass for food and cover; Canada geese feed
on the seeds and leaves [13].
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Sullivan, Janet. 1992. Dactylis glomerata. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/

Key Plant Community Associations

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More info for the terms: codominant, forbs, shrub, woodland

An introduced species, orchardgrass is not generally used for habitat
typing.  However, Sugihara and others [68] have described an Oregon
white oak (Quercus garryana)/orchardgrass vegetation type in Redwood
National Park, California.  This vegetation type occurs exclusively as
closed canopy stands, and is predominant on lower slopes.  A mixture of
tall perennial grasses and perennial forbs codominates the understory
with orchardgrass.  The shrub layer is sparse.  Other important
associates in this type include yerba buena (Satureja douglasii),
mountain sweetroot (Osmorhiza chilensis), California strawberry
(Fragaria californica), western sanicle (Sanicula crassicaulis),
American vetch (Vicia americana), and climbing bedstraw (Galium
nuttallii).  California honeysuckle (Lonicera hispidula) and rigid
betony (Stachys rigida) are common characteristic species [68].

Smith [64] has described an Oregon white oak/poison oak (Toxicodendron
diversilobum)/orchardgrass vegetation type as an even-aged woodland with
three well-developed strata.  Oregon white oak and California black oak
(Quercus kellogii) are the dominant overstory trees; poison oak and wild
rose (Rosa spp.) are the dominant midstory or shrub-layer; and
orchardgrass and hedgehog dogtail (Cynosurus echinatus) are codominant
grasses [64].

Orchardgrass is listed as a dominant or codominant understory plant in
the following publications:

Plant associations within the Interior Valleys of the Umpqua River
  Basin, Oregon [64]. 
The principal plant associations of the Saint Lawrence Valley [74].
Vegetation of the Bald Hill oak woodlands, Redwood National Park,
  California [68].
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Sullivan, Janet. 1992. Dactylis glomerata. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/

Life Form

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More info for the term: graminoid

Graminoid
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Sullivan, Janet. 1992. Dactylis glomerata. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/

Management considerations

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More info for the terms: forbs, frequency, tree, wildfire

As a forage species, orchardgrass does not withstand continuous heavy
use; it is therefore recommended for planting in less accessible sites,
and for early season, moderate grazing [32,47,65].  Grazing tends to
increase both crude protein and dry matter production, and increase
production of phytomass the following spring [57].  Orchardgrass
responds well to nitrogen fertilizers, and moderately well to coplanting
with legumes [62,72].  Clipping height has an effect on productivity--it
is recommended that orchardgrass not be clipped below 3 inches (7.6 cm)
in height as it appears to become much more drought sensitive [72].
Clipping frequency is apparently not as critical; orchardgrass has been
found to be as productive when cut at 2- to 3-week intervals as when cut
at 5- to 7-week intervals [72].

Burned sites (either from wildfire, or sites that have been logged and
burned) seeded with orchardgrass had higher forage values than either
unseeded or unburned areas [37,45,53].  However, seeded grasses may
suppress growth of desirable timber species and native forbs.
[2,17,35,45,47].  Seidel and others [61] reported that seedling
mortality of Douglas-fir and ponderosa pine were slightly increased (5-6
percent) over unseeded areas.  They concluded that a light rate of
seeding is compatible with the establishment of tree seedlings [61].
Seedling survival of trees planted in established stands of orchardgrass
can be greatly enhanced (depending on soil type) by the application of
herbicide before planting.

On sites where growth of tree seedlings is desirable, grazing by cattle
and wildlife improves tree growth compared with no grazing or grazing by
wildlife alone.  The degree of forage use and timing of grazing are
critical to tree growth/cattle use compatibility; light, early season
grazing is the most beneficial [36,47].
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Sullivan, Janet. 1992. Dactylis glomerata. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/

Nutritional Value

provided by Fire Effects Information System Plants
Orchardgrass is ranked below other popular grass species in nutritive
value and is considered by many farmers to be poor, but this perception
is based on harvesting orchardgrass for hay after its peak nutritive
level in the spring.  Nutritive values have been shown to decline
steadily after the early season peak [62,72].  Crude protein is highest
in the spring and declines to an average winter level of 4.3 percent
[62].

A number of studies have been done on nutritional values and
digestibility for cattle, elk, and domestic sheep.  The tables below
represent the range of average values as reported by author under
different conditions and extraction methods.

   Cattle        crude protein  14-16% [22]  16-19% [7]
                 crude fiber    23-25% [22]
                 lignin         4-8.5% [22]  5-7%   [9]
                 organic matter 92-93% [22]
                 dry matter     20-25% [9]
                 digestibility  56-77% [22]  55-59% [9]

   Sheep         crude protein  8-21% 
                 fiber          17-33%
                 organic matter 89-93%
                 digestibility  55-81% [22]

   Elk           crude protein   9-13%
                 organic matter  87%
                 digestibility   55-62% [8]
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Sullivan, Janet. 1992. Dactylis glomerata. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/

Occurrence in North America

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     AK AZ  AR  CA  CO  CT  DE  GA  HI  ID     
IL IN  IA  KS  KY  ME  MD  MA  MI  MN     
MO MT  NE  NV  NH  NJ  NM  NY  NC  ND     
OH OK  OR  PA  RI  SC  SD  TN  TX  UT     
VT VA  WA  WV  WI  WY  AB  BC  NF  NS     
ON PQ
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Sullivan, Janet. 1992. Dactylis glomerata. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/

Other uses and values

provided by Fire Effects Information System Plants
Orchardgrass is a widely planted pasture grass [1,21,25,62] and is used
to increase forage production on rangelands [48].  It is frequently part
of mixtures that are seeded in mountain brush (especially Gambel oak
(Quercus gambelii) types to improve rangeland.  These mixtures are
drilled or broadcast seeded after some type of surface
preparation--usually removal of brush by burning or chaining, or by
herbicide application [6,38].  Orchardgrass is used to stabilize ski
slopes in Montana and to suppress annual weeds [5,39,40,41].
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Sullivan, Janet. 1992. Dactylis glomerata. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/

Palatability

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Palatability is rated high for cattle, elk, mule deer, and white-tailed
deer [15,50,59,64].
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Sullivan, Janet. 1992. Dactylis glomerata. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/

Phenology

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More info for the term: seed

Orchardgrass begins growth early in spring and flowers from May to
September or October.  In dry areas it is dormant in summer, but will
add new growth in the fall, and will flower again in fall under
appropriate conditions.  Most European populations are obligately
dormant in the summer, showing no growth even when irrigated.  Some
Mediterranean populations do not have this obligate dormancy [16].  A
green basal rosette is maintained through winter [14].  Flowering
appears to be temperature rather than light dependent [20].  Seed
shattering takes place in late summer; most seed will germinate in fall
as there is no innate dormancy [24].
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Sullivan, Janet. 1992. Dactylis glomerata. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/

Plant Response to Fire

provided by Fire Effects Information System Plants
Orchardgrass is reported to increase or remain stable after burning
[11,52]. 
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Sullivan, Janet. 1992. Dactylis glomerata. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/

Post-fire Regeneration

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More info for the terms: caudex, graminoid, ground residual colonizer, secondary colonizer, tussock

   Tussock graminoid
   Caudex, growing points in soil
   Ground residual colonizer (onsite, initial community)
   Secondary colonizer - offsite seed
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Sullivan, Janet. 1992. Dactylis glomerata. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/

Regeneration Processes

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More info for the terms: formation, seed, tiller

Orchardgrass reproduces largely by seed and by tiller formation.  The
relatively large seed does not have an innate dormancy [24].  Seed can
germinate in either light or darkness; germination is largely controlled
by moisture availability, and most seed germinates in the fall.  Thus,
orchardgrass does not tend to build up seedbanks in the soil [24].
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Sullivan, Janet. 1992. Dactylis glomerata. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/

Regional Distribution in the Western United States

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This species can be found in the following regions of the western United States (according to the Bureau of Land Management classification of Physiographic Regions of the western United States):

    1  Northern Pacific Border
    2  Cascade Mountains
    4  Sierra Mountains
    5  Columbia Plateau
    6  Upper Basin and Range
    7  Lower Basin and Range
    8  Northern Rocky Mountains
    9  Middle Rocky Mountains
   10  Wyoming Basin
   11  Southern Rocky Mountains
   12  Colorado Plateau
   13  Rocky Mountain Piedmont
   14  Great Plains
   15  Black Hills Uplift
   16  Upper Missouri Basin and Broken Lands
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Sullivan, Janet. 1992. Dactylis glomerata. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/

Season/Severity Classification

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More info for the term: severity

Spring- moderate severity
Fall -extreme severity

Site Description

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Both burned sites occurred on generally southeast aspect below 4,920
feet (1,500 m).  The slope averages 30 percent with a maximum of 50
percent.

Successional Status

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More info for the term: competition

Facultative Seral Species

Orchardgrass is shade tolerant.  It is often seeded on disturbed areas
and is naturalized to fields, meadows, and waste places [67].  It is
long-lived but susceptible to replacement by native species, especially
in drier areas, and does not usually persist past 1 or 2 decades
[12,42,43].

Stands of orchardgrass tend to become clumpier with age, especially
under high nitrogen conditions.  This may be best explained by the
relative amounts of competition among tillers and among plants [72].
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Sullivan, Janet. 1992. Dactylis glomerata. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/

Synonyms

provided by Fire Effects Information System Plants
Dactylis aschersoniana Graebn.
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Sullivan, Janet. 1992. Dactylis glomerata. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/

Taxonomy

provided by Fire Effects Information System Plants
The currently accepted scientific name of orchardgrass is Dactylis
glomerata L. [21,62,67]. Recognized varieties include [21]:

Dactylis glomerata var. ciliata Peterm.
Dactylis glomerata var. detonsa Fries
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Sullivan, Janet. 1992. Dactylis glomerata. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/

Value for rehabilitation of disturbed sites

provided by Fire Effects Information System Plants
More info for the terms: cover, forbs, seed

Orchardgrass is widely recommended and used for a variety of
rehabilitation applications.  It is recommended for planting with a
mixture of grasses and legumes to reduce erosion after devegetation by
fire.  Orchardgrass often shows early success, eventually being replaced
by native vegetation or other seeded species [12,45,49].

Orchardgrass is used in seed mixtures with other grasses and forbs
(usually clover or alfalfa) for rehabilitation of overgrazed lands.  The
success of orchardgrass appears to depend on the appropriateness of the site
to specific adaptations of orchardgrass cultivars, and also on proper
management of grazing [1,10,18,47,63].

Orchardgrass is planted in areas that have been logged and burned to
provide a vegetative cover for soil stabilization and provide forage for
cattle and/or wildlife [10,31,49].

Orchardgrass is also used for rehabilitation of sites disturbed by
mining [28,46].  The most successful applications in the western United
States appear to be sites that are relatively cool and moist (upper
elevations, shaded areas, etc.) [27,29,53].

Plantings of orchardgrass mixtures do well where there is adequate
moisture (12 inches or more annual precipitation) [28,60] and where
temperatures are not extreme [4,70].  In the drier western states it is
better adapted for higher elevations or in irrigated pastures and
croplands [69].  However, in the northeastern United States,
particularly the southern part of the region, orchardgrass is so well
adapted that it will invade alfalfa stands (Medicago spp.) [72].

Some cultivars are more drought resistant than others [54,55].  The
following list of cultivars indicates the wide range of strains
available; there are many more cultivars available--new ones are still
being listed.

'LATAR' is a late-season strain, highly recommended for pasture and hay
production; it is 10 percent higher in digestibility than other
cultivars and is more compatible with legumes, especially alfalfa
(Medicago sativa) [30].

'POTOMAC' is an early-season strain, better adapted to mountain sites
[30].

'PAIUTE' is more drought tolerant than other cultivars [30].

'POMAR' is a specially adapted low-growing strain particularly suited as
a cover crop in orchards and for road bank stabilization [30].
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Sullivan, Janet. 1992. Dactylis glomerata. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/

Derivation of specific name

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glomerata: clustered
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Hyde, M.A., Wursten, B.T. and Ballings, P. (2002-2014). Dactylis glomerata L. Flora of Zimbabwe website. Accessed 28 August 2014 at http://www.zimbabweflora.co.zw/speciesdata/species.php?species_id=103660
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Physical Description

provided by USDA PLANTS text
Perennials, Aquatic, leaves emergent, Terrestrial, not aquatic, Rhizomes present, Rhizome short and compact, stems close, Stolons or runners present, Stems nodes swollen or brittle, Stems erect or ascending, Stems geniculate, decumbent, or lax, sometimes rooting at nodes, Stems caespitose, tufted, or clustered, Stems terete, round in cross section, or polygonal, Stems compressed, flattened, or sulcate, Stem internodes hollow, Stems with inflorescence less than 1 m tall, Stems with inflorescence 1-2 m tall, Stems, culms, or scapes exceeding basal leaves, Leaves mostly cauline, Leaves conspicuously 2-ranked, distichous, Leaves sheathing at base, Leaf sheath mostly closed, Leaf sheath smooth, glabrous, Leaf sheath or blade keeled, Leaf sheath and blade differentiated, Leaf blades linear, Leaf blades 2-10 mm wide, Leaf blades 1-2 cm wide, Leaf blades mostly flat, Leaf blades mostly glabrous, Leaf blades scabrous, roughened, or wrinkled, Ligule present, Ligule an unfringed eciliate membrane, Inflorescence terminal, Inflorescence an open panicle, openly paniculate, branches spreading, Inflor escence a contracted panicle, narrowly paniculate, branches appressed or ascending, Inflorescence solitary, with 1 spike, fascicle, glomerule, head, or cluster per stem or culm, Inflorescence densely corymbose, paniculate, or capitate, rays reduced or absent, Inflorescence lax, widely spreading, branches drooping, pendulous, Inflorescence with 2-10 branches, Inflorescence branches 1-sided, Flowers bisexual, Spikelets pedicellate, Spikelets laterally compressed, Spikelet less than 3 mm wide, Spikelets with 2 florets, Spikelets with 3-7 florets, Spikelets all alike and fertille, Spikelets bisexual, Spikelets disarticulating above the glumes, glumes persistent, Spikelets disarticulating beneath or between the florets, Spikelets in dense head-like clusters, Spikelets secund, in rows on one side of rachis, Rachilla or pedicel glabrous, Glumes present, empty bracts, Glumes 2 clearly present, Glumes distinctly unequal, Glumes equal to or longer than adjacent lemma, Glume equal to or longer than spikelet, Glumes awned, awn 1-5 mm or longer, Glumes keeled or winged, Glumes 1 nerved, Glumes 3 nerved, Lemma coriaceous, firmer or thicker in texture than the glumes, Lemma 5-7 nerved, Lemma glabrous, Lemma body or surface hairy, Lemma apex acute or acuminate, Lemma mucronate, very shortly beaked or awned, less than 1-2 mm, Lemma with 1 awn, Lemma awn less than 1 cm long, Lemma awned from tip, Lemma awn subapical or dorsal, Lemma awns straight or curved to base, Lemma margins thin, lying flat, Lemma straight, Palea present, well developed, Palea membranous, hyaline, Palea longer than lemma, Palea 2 nerved or 2 keeled, Stamens 3, Styles 2-fid, deeply 2-branched, Stigmas 2, Fruit - caryopsis.
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Dactylis glomerata

provided by wikipedia EN

Dactylis glomerata is a species of flowering plant in the grass family Poaceae, commonly known as cock's-foot, orchard grass, or cat grass (due to its popularity for use with domestic cats). It is a cool-season perennial C3 bunchgrass native throughout most of Europe, temperate Asia, and northern Africa.[1][2][3][4][5]

Distribution

Dactylis glomerata occurs from sea level in the north of its range, to as high as 4,000 meters in altitude in the south of its range in Pakistan.[6] It is widely used for hay and forage.[5]

It is a principal species in the widespread National Vegetation Classification habitat community MG1 (Arrhenatherum elatius grassland) in the United Kingdom, and so can be found with Arrhenatherum elatius (false oat grass).[7]

Dactylis glomerata in Swakane Canyon, Chelan County Washington

It can be found in meadows, pasture, roadsides, and rough grassland.

It has been introduced into North America, New Zealand and Australia, and is now widely naturalised.[8] In some areas, it has become an invasive species.

One of the keys to distinguishing this species from other grasses are its flat stems

Description

Cock's-foot grows in dense perennial tussocks to 20–140 centimetres (7.9–55.1 in; 0.66–4.59 ft) tall, with grey-green leaves 20–50 centimetres (7.9–19.7 in; 0.66–1.64 ft) long and up to 1.5 centimetres (0.59 in) broad, and a distinctive tufted triangular flowerhead 10–50 centimetres (3.9–19.7 in; 0.33–1.64 ft) long, which may be either green or red- to purple-tinged (usually green in shade, redder in full sun), turning pale grey-brown at seed maturity. The spikelets are 5–9 millimetres (0.20–0.35 in) long, typically containing two to five flowers. It has a characteristic flattened stem base which distinguishes it from many other grasses.[2][5]

It flowers from June to September.[9]

Flower head

Taxonomy

Dactylis glomerata is treated as the sole species in the genus Dactylis by some authors,[1][3] while others include one to four other species.[10] It is commonly divided into several regional subspecies, particularly by those authors accepting only the single species:[1][6][10]

  • Dactylis glomerata subsp. glomerata. Widespread; described from Europe.
  • Dactylis glomerata subsp. altaica. Central Asia.
  • Dactylis glomerata subsp. himalayensis. (syn. D. himalayensis). Western Himalaya.
  • Dactylis glomerata subsp. hispanica (syn. D. hispanica). Mediterranean, SW Asia.
  • Dactylis glomerata subsp. ibizensis. Balearic Islands.
  • Dactylis glomerata subsp. judaica
  • Dactylis glomerata subsp. juncinella. Spain.
  • Dactylis glomerata subsp. lobata (syn. D. glomerata subsp. aschersoniana, D. aschersoniana, D. polygama). Central Europe.
  • Dactylis glomerata subsp. lusitanica. Portugal.
  • Dactylis glomerata subsp. marina (syn. D. marina). Western Mediterranean region, Iberia, Canary Islands.
  • Dactylis glomerata subsp. reichenbachii. Italy.
  • Dactylis glomerata subsp. santai
  • Dactylis glomerata subsp. slovenica. Central Europe.
  • Dactylis glomerata subsp. smithii (syn. D. smithii). Macaronesia.
  • Dactylis glomerata subsp. woronowii (syn. D. woronowii). Russia.

Dactylis glomerata subsp. glomerata and subsp. hispanica are tetraploid forms with 28 chromosomes; some of the other subspecies, including subsp. himalayensis and subsp. lobata are diploid, with 2n = 14. Hexaploid forms with 42 chromosomes are also known, but rare.[3][11] Tetraploid forms are larger and coarser than diploid forms.[11]

Cultivation and uses

Cock's-foot is widely used as a hay grass and for pastures because of its high yields and sugar content, which makes it sweeter than most other temperate grasses. In dry areas as in much of Australia, Mediterranean subspecies such as subsp. hispanica are preferred for their greater drought tolerance.[12] It requires careful grazing management; if it is undergrazed it becomes coarse and unpalatable.

In some areas to which it has been introduced, cock's-foot has become an invasive weed, notably some areas of the eastern United States.[10]

As with other grasses, the pollen can cause allergic rhinitis (hay fever) in some people.

The grass is popularly grown to satisfy the craving of domestic cats to chew grass, hence its colloquial name cat grass.[13]

The seeds were first collected by Rogers Parker in Hertfordshire; this was then developed by the agricultural reformer Coke of Norfolk.[14] Parker's estate, Munden, near Bricket Wood, was inherited by the botanist George Hibbert.[15]

Butterfly foodplant

The caterpillars of many butterfly species feed on cock's foot, including:[16]

References

Wikispecies has information related to Dactylis glomerata.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Dactylis glomerata.
  1. ^ a b c Flora Europaea: Dactylis glomerata Archived 2011-07-24 at the Wayback Machine
  2. ^ a b Interactive Flora of NW Europe Dactylis glomerata (Cock's-foot)
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  7. ^ "False Oat Grass Description". Botanical Society of Britain & Ireland (BSBI). Archived from the original on 2011-07-17. Retrieved 10 December 2010.
  8. ^ "Dactylis glomerata (cocksfoot)". Plants of Hawaii.
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  12. ^ NSW Department of Primary Industries PrimeFacts: Cocksfoot
  13. ^ Victoria Nursery: Catgrass plant
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  16. ^ Natural England: Cocksfoot - Dactylis glomerata Archived 2010-02-17 at the Wayback Machine
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Dactylis glomerata: Brief Summary

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Dactylis glomerata is a species of flowering plant in the grass family Poaceae, commonly known as cock's-foot, orchard grass, or cat grass (due to its popularity for use with domestic cats). It is a cool-season perennial C3 bunchgrass native throughout most of Europe, temperate Asia, and northern Africa.

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