Tussock grass

Tussock grasses or bunch 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 two meters (6 1⁄2 feet) 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 (including Lepidoptera), 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

Examples:

Species

Australia

New Zealand

Chionochloa australis – carpet grass
Chionochloa flavescens – snow tussock
Chionochloa oreophila – snow-patch grass
Chionochloa rubra – red tussock
Festuca novaezelandiae – fescue tussock or hard tussock
Poa cita – silver tussock
Poa colensoi – blue tussock
Poa foliosa – muttonbird poa

North America

Bunch grasses:

South America

Deschampsia cespitosa – tufted hair-grass (up through North America)
Nassella trichotoma – serrated tussock (common pasture weed in Australia)
Poa flabellata – tussac grass (synonyms: Parodiochloa flabellata, Festuca flabellata, Dactylis caespitosa)

Africa

Heteropogon contortus – perennial tussock grass (to Asia, Australasia, Oceania)

Europe

Ampelodesmos mauritanicus – rope grass
Brachypodium sylvaticum – false-brome
Molinia caerulea – purple moor grass (to west Asia and north Africa)

References

External links

California Native Grasslands Association: Bunchgrass species & habitats: preservation & restoration
http://www.landcareresearch.co.nz/resources/identification/plants/grass-key Archived 2013-10-12 at the Wayback Machine

«Close Up Of Snow Tussock Grasses» del colaborador de Stocksy «Rialto