Plant Data Sheet
Species
(common name, Latin name) Poverty oatgrass, Danthonia spicata
Range Poverty oatgrass inhabits
a large portion of
AK, AL, AR, CO, CT, DE, FL, GA, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA,
ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MS, MO, MT, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC,
SD, TN, TX, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, and WY (USDA, FEIS, 2003).
Local
occurrence (where, how common) The species of interest is common throughout
Habitat
preferences
Poverty oatgrass inhabits old fields, pastures,
roadsides and woodland margins that have soil that is sand or rocky, low in fertility
and low soil moisture (Darbyshire
and Cayquette 1989).
Poverty oatgrass also inhabits clearcuts, burns, and areas that have been trampled (USDA
FEIS 2003).
Plant
strategy type/successional stage (stress-tolerator, competitor, weedy/colonizer, seral,
late successional) The species of interest
is a secondary successor on burned and anthropologically disturbed sites (Philipson 1986). Its ability to colonize after a disturbance is due to long
periods of seed dormancy (Livingston and Allessio 1968).
Associated
species Poverty
oatgrass inhabits many grass, shrub, and forest
habitats. Common prairie associates of
poverty oatgrass include lowbush
blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolium),
goldenrod (Solidago spp.),
bracken fern (Pteridium aquilinum),
little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium), wheatgrasses (Triticeae), fescues (Festuca
spp.), needlegrasses (Achnatherum spp.),
and bluegrasses (Poa spp.) (USDA, FEIS 2003).
May
be collected as: (seed, layered, divisions, etc.) Seed or tillers
Seed
germination (needs dormancy breaking?) Seeds are highly dormant, but germinate readily on
exposed mineral soil (Scheiner 1989).
Seed
life (can be stored, short shelf-life, long shelf-life) Due to the seeds
dormancy, seeds may be stored for decades.
Propagation
recommendations (plant seeds, vegetative parts, cuttings, etc.) Planting both seeds and
tillers has been successful.
Soil or medium requirements (inoculum
necessary?) Grows well in sandy or rocky soil with low fertility and
low moisture (USDA FEIS 2003).
Installation
form (form, potential for successful outcomes, cost) Seeds are the most
prolific form of reproduction. Poverty oatgrass is highly self-compatible but also can
cross-pollinate (Clay 1983).
Care
requirements after installed (water weekly, water once etc.) - Information
not available.
Clay,
K. 1983. The differential establishment of seedlings from chasmogamous
and cleisotogamous flowers in natural populations of
the grass Danthonia spciata
(L.) Beauv. Ecologia. 57(1/2): 183-188.
Livingston, R.B.; Allessiom L.L.
1968. Buried viable seed in successional field
and forest stands,
Philipson, M. N. 1986.
A re-assessment of the form of reproductin
in Danthonia spicata
(L.) Beauv. The New Phytologist 103(1):
231-243.
Scheiner, S. M. 1988. Populations dynamics
of an herbaceous perennial Danthonia spicata during secondary forest succession. The American
Scheiner, S. M. 1989. Variable selection along a successional
gradient. Evolution 43(3): 548-562.
USDA
FEIS. 2003. www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/plants/ graminoid/danspi/all.html
Data
compiled by (student name and date) Daniela Shebitz,