Redfieldia
Redfieldia, known as blowout grass, is a monotypic genus in the grass family (Poaceae). The sole species, Redfieldia flexuosa, is native to sandhills in the western and central United States.[1][2] The plants grow in small clusters, protecting each other from the harsh desert conditions.
| Redfieldia | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Blowout grass on a sand dune | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Monocots |
| Clade: | Commelinids |
| Order: | Poales |
| Family: | Poaceae |
| Genus: | Redfieldia Vasey |
| Species: | R. flexuosa |
| Binomial name | |
| Redfieldia flexuosa (Thurb. ex A. Gray) Vasey | |
| Synonyms | |
|
Graphephorum flexuosum Thurb. ex A. Gray | |
Description
The flowering culms are 0.5–1 m (1 ft 8 in – 3 ft 3 in) tall. The inflorescence is an open panicle with solitary spikelets on narrow pedicels. Each spikelet has between two and six florets. The glumes have pointed tips and are narrower than the fertile lemma. The lemma has three veins and hairy margins. The glumes are persistent after fruiting. It spreads with elongated rhizomes.[2]
Distribution and habitat
According to the United States Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), blowout grass is found in thirteen states, including Arizona, Colorado, Illinois, Kansas, Montana, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, and Wyoming.[3]
See also
References
- Watson L, Dallwitz MJ (2008). "The grass genera of the world: descriptions, illustrations, identification, and information retrieval; including synonyms, morphology, anatomy, physiology, phytochemistry, cytology, classification, pathogens, world and local distribution, and references". The Grass Genera of the World. Retrieved 23 June 2013.
- Grassbase - The World Online Grass Flora
- USDA, Natural Resources Conservation Service, "Plants profile: Redfieldia flexuosa (Thurb.) Vasey: blowout grass", http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=REFL (accessed March 24, 2009).