Stipa spartea
Stipa comata
This is a genus of cespitose perennials with basal involute leaves
and usually drooping panicles. The spikelets are 1-flowered
with the glumes acute or acuminate and longer than the lemma
bodies. Lemmas are firm or even hardened and usually tightly
enclose the palea and caryopsis and with a long twisted and
bent awn. As fruits dry, the awns become more and more
twisted orienting the seed properly to the soil. Moisture then
straightens the awn driving it into the soil for self-planting. The
base of the lemma forms a sharp pointed callus, covered with
stiff hairs, that frequently gets caught in passing trousers, socks,
and fur. The species are often important components of their
grassland types. Several of the species hybridize and some
hybridize with the closely related Oryzopsis.
3 species in MN; 3 native
Common species:
Stipa spartea (sty' pah spar tee' ah)
Synonyms: None Common names: porcupine grass; Lakota: micapeca Origin and habitat: Native; dry prairies and in open, often sandy woods Identifying characters: This species is up to 1 m tall with leafy wispy-looking stems. Leaves are pubescent on the margins in the collar area and sheaths are distinctly wider than the blades; the lower surface is often shiny early in the spring. Ligules are 1-5 mm long and longer on the sides. Lemmas are pubescent and taper into awns 12-20 cm long. Comments: Porcupine grass is another cool-season native with rapid spring growth but forms rather open populations. As the fruits dry, the persistent awns twist and turn driving the seed into the ground (self-sowing). Bundles of fruits were sometimes used as hair brushes by various tribes of American Indians. Porcupine grass can provide valuable forage but only when immature; the sharp base of the mature fruit will become embedded in the mouth of livestock and cause severe discomfort. MAPS ADDITIONAL SPECIES IN MINNESOTA: Stipa comata Stipa viridula Next genus Return to technical key