Autumn moor grass
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Clade: Commelinids
Order: Poales
Family: Poaceae
Subfamily: Pooideae
Genus: Sesleria
Species:
S. autumnalis
Binomial name
Sesleria autumnalis
(Scop.) F.W.Schultz 1861[1]
Synonyms
  • Sesleria elongata Host 1802[2]
  • Phleum autumnale 1771[3]
  • Aira alba Wulff 1829[4]
  • Sesleria argentea var. elongata 1850[5]

Sesleria autumnalis, commonly known as autumn moor grass, is a species of grass within the family Poaceae. It is native to southeastern Europe and often used as ornamental ground cover in North America.[6]

Taxonomy

The first recorded description of the species is attributed to Giovanni Antonio Scopoli, who referred to it as Phleum autumnale in the second edition of his book, Flora Carniolica, which was published in 1771. Friedrich Wilhelm Schultz gave the species its current name, Sesleria autumnalis in his book Archives de Flore.[7]

The species has been referred to by several heterotypic synonyms, including: Sesleria elongata, Aira alba, and Sesleria argentea var. elongata.[8]

Description

Sesleria autumnalis is a perennial. Its blades are phyllotactic and overhanging, with v-shaped cross sections. In the autumn it changes in color, from light-green to a yellowish brown. It flowers in late summer, when spikelets grow in groups of three on the end of leafless stems.[9][10]

Distribution and habitat

In its natural habitat, S. autumnalis is often found in wooded regions and grassy or sparsely covered areas.[11] The species is common in the Balkan Peninsula and on the calcite mountains of the eastern Alps.[12]

Cultivation

Sesleria autumnalis is cultivated as an ornamental plant. It has received the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.[13]

References

  1. ↑ Schultz, Friedrich Wilhelm. Archives de Flore: journal (recueil) botanique (in French). Vol. 1.
  2. ↑ Host, Nicolaus Thomas (1802). Icones et Descriptiones Graminum Austriacorum (in Latin). Vol. 2. p. 69.
  3. ↑ Scopoli, Giovanni Antonio. Flora Carniolica (in Italian). Vol. 1 (2nd ed.). p. 56.
  4. ↑ Kunth, Karl Sigismund (1835). Distribution méthodique de la famille des Graminées (in Latin). Vol. 1. Paris: Librarie-Gide. p. 110.
  5. ↑ Pignatti, Sandro (1982). Flora d'Italia (in Italian). Vol. 3. Edagricole. p. 365. ISBN 9788820623128.
  6. ↑ Barkworth, Mary E.; Anderton, Laurel K.; Capels, Kathleen M.; Long, Sandy; Piep, Michael B. (2007). Manual of Grasses for North America. University Press of Colorado. ISBN 9781457180989.
  7. ↑ Deyl, Miloš (1946). Study of the Genus Sesleria. C̆eskoslovenská Botanická Spolec̆nost. p. 94.
  8. ↑ "Sesleria autumnalis Synonyms". World Checklist of Selected Plant Families (WCSP). Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
  9. ↑ Greenlee, John (1992). The Encyclopedia of Ornamental Grasses. Rodale Press. pp. 146–147. ISBN 9780875961002.
  10. ↑ Clayton, W.D.; Vorontsova, M.S.; Harman, K.T.; Williamson, H. (2006-11-08). "Sesleria autumnalis". GrassBase - The Online World Grass Flora. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 2020-07-05.
  11. ↑ Nuovo giornale botanico italiano (in Italian). Vol. 15. Societa botanica italiana. 1908. p. 317.
  12. ↑ Theurillar, Jean-Paul; Aeschimann, D.;Küpfer, Philippe; Spichiger, R. (1995). "The Higher Vegetation Units of the Alps". Colloq Phytosociol. Volume 23: p. 189-239.
  13. ↑ "Sesleria autumnalis". www.rhs.org. Royal Horticultural Society. Retrieved 5 March 2021.
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