Tussock grass


Tussock grasses are a group of grass species in the family Poaceae. They usually grow as singular plants in clumps, tufts, hummocks, or bunches, rather than forming a sod or lawn, in meadows, grasslands, and prairies. As perennial plants, most species live more than one season. Tussock grasses are often found as forage in pastures and ornamental grasses in gardens.
Many species have long roots that may reach or more into the soil, which can aid slope stabilization, erosion control, and soil porosity for precipitation absorption. Also, their roots can reach moisture more deeply than other grasses and annual plants during seasonal or climatic droughts. The plants provide habitat and food for insects, birds, small animals and larger herbivores, and support beneficial soil mycorrhiza. The leaves supply material, such as for basket weaving, for indigenous peoples and contemporary artists.
Tussock and bunch grasses occur in almost any habitat where other grasses are found, including: grasslands, savannas and prairies, wetlands and estuaries, riparian zones, shrublands and scrublands, woodlands and forests, montane and alpine zones, tundra and dunes, and deserts.

Fire resistance

In western North American wildfires, bunch grasses tend to smolder and not ignite into flames, unlike invasive species of annual grasses that contribute to a fire's spreading.

Genera

Species

Australia

New Zealand

North America

Aristida purpurea – purple three-awnBouteloua gracilis – blue gramaCalamagrostis foliosa – leafy reedgrass Calamagrostis nutkaensis – Pacific reedgrassCalamagrostis purpurascens – purple reedgrassDanthonia californica – California oatgrassEriophorum vaginatum – hare's-tail cottongrass Festuca californica – California fescueFestuca idahoensis – Idaho fescueFestuca rubra – red fescueKoeleria macrantha – junegrassLeymus condensatus – giant wildryeMelica californica – California melicMelica imperfecta – smallflower melicMuhlenbergia rigens – deer grassNassella lepida – foothill needlegrassNassella pulchra – purple needlegrass Poa secunda – pine bluegrassSporobolus heterolepis – prairie dropseedSporobolus virginicus – salt couch grassTripsacum dactyloides – eastern gamagrass

South America

Africa

Europe

Non-Poaceae tussocks