#chasmanthium

Plant of the Day

Saturday 30 December 2023

The distinctive flattened flowerheads of Chasmanthium latifolium (fish-on-a-fishing-pole, northern wood-oats, inland sea oats, northern sea oats, river oats, spangle grass) which dry remaining green with shades of bronze and purple tints. This grass is ideal for shade and a moisture retentive soil.

Back to the chert barrens, Wild Cat Glades, MO. 

Riparian zone, chert glades budding directly up to the banks of shoal creek, the habitat remains rather open and dry, many upland forbes associated with open prairie with decent soil occur here along with many riparian grass since some alluvium is present along the banks. The aquatic section is somewhat intact for once, 

Saururus cernuus , lizzard tail, a plant that smells like root beer when crushed and a species known for bank stabilization along clean water ways and streams with karst cobble. In most cases it is a bank stabilizer though chert is insoluble and hard to weather so I don’t think it is going anywhere. 

The Riparian zone is a bit more complex but here is what was noticeably dominant:

The trees and scrub present are that of post oak/Quercus stellata that are krumholtzed, button bush/Cephalanthus occidentalis , and Viburnum dentatum are more present along with eastern sycamore/  Platanus occidentalis(occident means “of the west” but the western usa has a western sycamore so this name refers to how Europeons thought of North America as the “west”.

Sub shrubs and vines tend to be   Toxicodendron radicans, and a Rubus spp. (one of the uncommon/rare ones because I can’t find this species anywhere on I nat and I even tried to do the classic bonap comparison, I think I need to start collecting herbarium specimens of Rubus spp. so I can key). Campsis radicans is also present too.

While the Missouri goldenrods and bluestem goldenrods were not in bloom a few forbes were: Echinacea purpurea and Ratibida pinnata.

Plant of the Day

Friday 19 November 2021

The flattened seedheads of Chasmanthium latifolium (North America wild oats, sea oats, spangle grass) create great winter interest. This spreading deciduous grass thrives in humus-rich soil with full sun.

Jump Rock, and  Chasmanthium latifolium 

Plant of the Day

Tuesday 26 December 2017

Still providing winter interest are the seed heads of Chasmanthium latifolium (North America wild oats, spangle grass). This spreading deciduous grass has arching stems bearing diamond shaped flattened spikes of flowers. It grows on moist, well-drained soils.