Hesperostipa comata (Trin. and Rupr.) Barkworth
characteristics
A densely tufted bunchgrass with narrow, mainly basal, leaves. This grass produces a large seedhead consisting of a mass of long awned spikelets. The thread like seed extensions bend with changing humidity causing seed to disperse. When released the awn twists, as moisture increases it untwists. During the drying process it continues twisting into the ground. Fibrous roots grow vertically and laterally reaching 0.9 - 1.5 m deep.
AKA speargrass and Stipa comata.
137,857 seeds/pound; starts from seed, container.
| T | SSN | H | W | sun | soil | H2O | fire | N2 | pH | summer | fall | flower (seed) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | CW | 0.9 | B | S | M-C | D | ••• | - | 6.6-8.4 | green | white | white-bronze |
habitat
Grassland, fields, forest edges.
uses
Young shoots are a food source for jackrabbits and prairie dogs.
Native American children played arrows with the sharp pointed awns.
Provincial grass of Saskatchewan. It was chosen because it is the dominant grass of the Province’s mixed grassland eco-region and is also common in the moist mixed grassland and aspen parkland eco-regions.
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