Category Archives: grasses

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Some research that might be of interest…

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My Google Scholar alert feed tossed a couple of items my way  that might be of interest. They are in PDF format, so you can read them online or download them for future reference:

Tricky partners: native plants show stronger interaction preferences than their exotic counterparts.

Citation: Coux, C., I. Donoso, J. M. Tylianakis, D. Garcı´a, D. Martı´nez, D. M. Dehling, and D. B. Stouffer. 2021. Tricky partners: native plants show stronger interaction preferences than their exotic counterparts Ecology 102(2):e03239. 10.1002/ecy.3239

Main takeaway (my interpretation): Increasing presence of exotic plants may put rare native plants at higher risk of extinction.

(Caveat: my browser says the site is not secure. However, I have several security programs that (hopefully) would mitigate. the risks).

That being said, the article is from a group of scientists from New Zealand, Germany and Spain who looked into the interactions that native and exotic plant species had with other plant species.

Exotic species interact with many partners with which they have not coevolved, and it remains unclear whether this systematically influences the strength of neutral processes on interactions, and how these interaction-level differences scale up to entire networks. To fill this gap, we compared interactions between plants and frugivorous birds at nine forest sites in New Zealand varying in the relative abundance and composition of native and exotic species, with independently sampled data on bird and plant abundances from the same sites

The results found that native plants’ interactions with birds were both more positive (preference for) and negative (avoidance of). Their analysis suggests that the blending of species communities through dispersal of exotics into native plant communities might result in an increase of neutral interactions between birds and native plants or exotic plants.

This could make rare species more vulnerable to this loss of selectivity and to greater randomness in the identity of their interaction partner.

So there’s another argument for getting rid of invasives.

Moving right along, here comes

Where Have the Native Grasses Gone: What a LongTerm Repeat Study Can Tell Us about California’s Native Prairie Landscapes

…found that native grass cover decreased dramatically (especially on the valley floor), exotic grass cover fluctuated widely over time, while both native and exotic forb cover increased over time. The findings support the notion that prior grazing management practices may have supported the former stands of Stipa pulchra.

… Several trends became apparent when the data from the three periods are viewed together. Both native and exotic forbs increased between each data collection. There were consistently more native forbs than exotic ones and native grasses decreased in cover. Though exotic grasses fluctuated, they always made up a greater amount of cover than their native counterparts. Lastly, cover of bare ground fluctuated and shrubs declined. The Fisher’s Exact test of the increases and decreases of forb and grass cover across quadrats from 1981 to 2015 had a p-value of 0.00012 indicating that we can reject the null hypothesis of independence…

… native bunchgrasses have declined dramatically since the end of the ranching era. Simultaneously, native forbs have increased (at least temporarily), especially on the valley floor. Our findings also suggest that the historical ranching practices in LJV likely supported the excellent stands of Stipa observed in the valley prior to release from grazing. These findings are in agreement with those of previous long-term studies in other parts of California that also found a decline in Stipa cover on lands released from grazing. (emphasis added).

If one were to generalize the conclusions of this study to Texas, where this writer resides, I would say that the presence of large stands of Prickly Pear (Opuntia sp.). and Texas Cedars (Juniperus ashei) as the dominant species in large parts of Central Texas is probably due to past practices of overgrazing, similar to the presence of the native bunchgrasses in California has been attributed to the previous grazing practices in the study cited above.

However, I do not believe that the answer to the problem is to bulldoze the soil away and to cover the land with non-permeable surfaces like buildings and asphalt parking lots.  One can develop land while leaving large portions of native plant species intact, and without replacing them with crappy myrtles and Nandina plants.

postscript:

One of the references used in the article on California grasses was California’s Fading Wildflowers  by Richard A. Minnich. The table of contents and lists of illustrations and tables and preface are available for open access, but the book itself costs a hefty $128.00.  Another reference was Terrestrial Vegetation of California. California Native Plant Society Special Publication Number 9 (pp. 733–760). Sacramento, California., which is not on the web.

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annuals, butterflies, cacti, grasses, native plants, pollinators, shrubs, Vines, wildflowers Leave a comment

Gone to seed, fruits, or berries, mostly…

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Took a walk out in the woods, in the middle of the summer, to see if the Phemeranthus calycinus aka Rock Pink, might be in bloom, since we had had several days of rain prior. No such luck. There had been at least 20 specimens in the immediate area about four years ago, and earlier this year I found one in bloom, but even the Bitterweed (Helenium amarum) seemed to be scorched, for the most part, although I did take a photo of one that wasn’t, and some grasses. (For an article describing the flower I was looking for, and some photos, see Stalking the ephemeral Rock-Pink).

The area I’ve dubbed “Lace Cactus Lane” because of its concentration of Echinocereus species, was in fairly decent condition. And a pass through the area I call “Vine Street” revealed some Pearl Milkweed Vine (Matelea reticulata) pods dried and open, as well as some Carolina Snailseed (Cocculus carolinus), starting to put out its berries. Of course, there was the usual Poison Ivy (Toxicodendron radicans), Virginia Creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia ) and Sevenleaf Creeper (Parthenocissus heptophylla). And I took a few shots of the Bearded Swallow-Wort vine (Cynanchum barbigerum) just to illustrate the way it braids itself along whatever is supporting it.

A bit closer to home, Butterflyweed (Asclepias tuberosa) were in bloom,  as were Texas Lantana (Lantana urticoides) , Apache Plume (Fallugia paradoxa), Gregg’s Mistflower (Conoclinium greggii), Mealy Blue Sage (Salvia farinacea), Skeleton-leaf Golden-eye (Viguiera stenoloba),  Four-nerve daisies (Tetraneuris sp.), Flame acanthus  (Anisacanthus quadrifidus), Autumn Sage (Salvia greggii), and Manzanilla (better known by the name Turk’s Cap, and rarely called Texas Red Mallow)(Malvaviscus arboreus var. drummondii). Even the Wild petunia (Ruellia nudiflora) has been putting out blooms lately, and the Yellow Passion Flower (Passiflora lutea) seems to have just recently finished its latest cycle.

Which leads to a mention of the life cycle of the Gulf Fritillary (Agraulis vanillae) butterflies, which have tried their best but haven’t succeeded in stripping the Passiflora vines completely this year. Given that it is safe to speculate that the suburban subdivision where I reside has little habitat for these beautiful pollinators, one can only hope that my little nursery is keeping the local population going.

annuals, butterflies, Drought resistant, grasses, insects, perennials, pollinators, Vines, wildflowers , , , , , Leave a comment

In the heat of the summer

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I seem to suffer from Gilligan’s Syndrome – what starts out as a five minute walk outside to water the plants in their containers that I am hoping will hold on until cooler weather comes (September? October?) turns into an hour or more photo safari. Sometimes I go beyond the confines of my yard, sometimes not.

Ruellia nudiflora, for instance, has suddenly been blooming like crazy. A Passiflora incarnata volunteer popped up in the mulched bed across from the Passiflora lutea and Passiflora suberosa, and started putting out blooms. The Malvaviscus arboreus var. drummondii continue to bloom, as do the Salvia greggii, Lantana urticoides, Scutellarria wrightii, Salvia farinacea, and Conoclinium greggii. In the “nursery,” several Asclepias milkweeds have bloomed or budded, along with Tetraneuris scaposa. In the gravel pathway, I had to (reluctantly) trim the Boerhavia coccinea back to allow human passage. The Fallugia paradoxa has put out a few blooms and plumes, and the Pavonia lasiopetala has been a pleasant surprise with its hibiscus-like pink blossoms.

We have Liatris punctata still in bloom, Melampodium leucanthum, Asclepias texana, and a native grass that I have been calling “Indian Grass,” (turns out that is the common name for Sorghum nutans. The Aloysia gratissima has attracted pollinators, as has the Anisacanthus quadrifidus, and behind the fence, the Proboscidea louisianica or “Devil’s Claw,” has held out with a bloom or two. The Glandularia bipinnatifida has come up in various spots, too low for the mowers’ blades most of the time. As can be seen in some of the photos, these native plants of Texas, most of which are not receiving any supplemental watering, provide food for Bumblebees, butterflies, and even hummingbirds, lizards, and wasps. I even went out and over the course of several days, harvested enough Diospyros texana fruit to make a Texas Persimmon Loaf. The slide show that follows includes photos taken the week of August 10 – 16, 2020

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annuals, butterflies, grasses, insects, invasives, perennials, shrubs , , 2 Comments

A mid-Summer’s nightmare

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I have seen the best plants of my eco-region driven into ghettos of greenbelts, invaded by non-native plants, poisoned with herbicides…

I see public areas, along roadways and in park areas, mowed so low that the grass is turning brown and burnt by the sun, despite sprinklers and watering, and occasional rains brought on from sub-tropical weather disturbances in the Gulf of Mexico.

I see the berm behind my house, where a stand of wildflowers in bloom had been cut down in late May while the ground was still wet, and where the native Silver Bluestem grass, which had once dominated the berm, had returned, mowed down in late July, parched and sere under the August sun. Because the contracts signed say they have to mow a certain number of times within certain calendar limits.

I have written emails to my HOA and the Municipal Utility District, and received no response. If a tree falls in the forest, or a native plant goes extinct or disappears from a region because of destruction of habitat, does it make a sound if there are no humans to hear it cry out?

And yet, life goes on.

I have seen the Clematis drummondii, with their achenes in showy white plumes, and must make a note to get out of the house for a photo safari soon, while this year’s show is still on. I have seen the Passiflora  vines and the Gulf Fritillary butterflies in their back and forth movements between fertilization, egg-laying, larvae consuming the plant, and adult butterflies dancing about. I have seen the native plants in my yard, both those intentionally planted, and those volunteers who have been recognized and protected, thrive or at least survive.

And I have seen the birds drinking from the water fountain, having been provided with plants that provide food (and insects that thrive and provide food as well), shelter, and a place to build their homes. I have seen the hummingbirds zooming about, grabbing sips of nectar from the salvias, the Texas Red Mallows, and the Flame Acanthus (though this year, I’m afraid I haven’t quick enough to focus and click on the camera quickly enough to capture one in mid-flight.

And as the globe warms, I wonder what changes I’ll be seeing in the plants that thrive in this area, and whether enough humans will start to think outside the box of “that’s the way we’ve always done it,” or “that’s the I’ve always heard it should be,” to make a dent in the greenhouse we are living in.

But enough of that. Time for some photos – some OK, some not so great, but the subject matter supersedes this one’s talents:

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Oops! They did it again.

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As in, “They mowed the berm between the greenbelt and the houses when it didn’t need mowing.” (See slideshow at the end of the post).

I had just gotten back inside the house, after taking some photos of plants in my yard, and had gone out into the berm, to document the healthy growth of Silver Bluestem that had risen up after the most recent massacre at the end of May. While not as thick as one might wish, it was good to know that my removal of the Perennial Rye and Malta Star Thistle had allowed the native grass to come back.

Looking on the bright side, it appeared that the mower’s blades had been set at a higher level than before. Whether they pressure washed the blades before mowing, I don’t know. Since I have not received the courtesy of a reply to my emails in February and June,  I don’t know. And the Johnson Grass, which I’ve been pulling out or removing the inflorescences from so they don’t go to seed, were mowed down, leaving the Poison Ivy more or less intact, so that it will be easier to go out and apply an herbicide to eradicate. And at least they mowed while the ground was dry.

So while I am still not happy with the apparent frequency of scheduled mowing, it seems that my attempts to enlighten and educate those responsible has made a small dent. Persistence will tell the tale.

annuals, grasses, native plants, perennials, pollinators, shrubs, wildflowers 1 Comment

What’s blooming in Central Texas?

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What, indeed? I’m happy to say I’ve seen a hummingbird buzzing around the Turk’s caps (Malvaviscus arboreus var. drummondii), the Tetraneuris scaposa as well as the T. scaposa var. linearifolia are in bloom, although the ones in the “nuisance strip are less lively than the ones in the one gallon pots ready to augment them. The Blackfoot Daisies (Melampodium leucanthum) are blooming, and the Cenizo or Texas Sage (Leucophyllum frutescens) bloomed for a little while, but have faded as the temperatures get into the 100s and the air has dried up. Datura (Datura wrightii) have been putting out their Angel Trumpets at night. Devil’s Claw (Proboscidea louisianica) are coming up behind the fence, along with plenty of Silverleaf nightshade (Solanum  elaeangifolium). Here are some of those mentioned, and maybe some not.

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Natives returning, along with a few undesirables

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A month after the Wildflower Massacre at the hands of untrained/poorly trained mowers (who are not to blame, for the are just pawns in the game), the native plants are making a strong comeback, as well as a couple of unwelcome plants, both exotic and native. Among the invasive or undesirable plants are Johnson Grass (Sorghum halepense), Bermuda Grass (Cynodon dactylon), and Poison Ivy (Toxicodendron radicans). Interestingly enough, most of the “new” natives are coming up in the area in which I had already pulled some 10 bags of grasses and weeds of the exotic and invasive persuasion. But enough talk, here’s a slideshow to illustrate what I’m talking about.

 

The low blade mowing (under 7 inches) according to a personal source expert on eradicating non-native species from parks and preserves, is a great way to spread the Poison Ivy (a native, but one which one prefers left in preserves, untouched by mower blades). I suspect that cutting below 7 inches also encourages the spread of Bermuda Grass. The Johnson Grass is an opportunistic plant that likes disturbed soils such as construction sites or “scalped” roadways and in my case, berms. But it can be easily defeated by pulling it out after every rain, and letting native grasses take over.

annuals, exotics, grasses, invasives, native plants, perennials, wildflowers 1 Comment

What a difference a day makes… not for the better, this time.

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On Tuesday, May 26, 2020, I was participating in an online Parkinson’s exercise class when I heard the sound of engines and saw a mower going across the berm next to a green belt. The first three pictures below show the wildflowers that I had managed to give some room by pulling about 10 bags of invasive grasses and noxious weed from around them since February. The last three pictures show the result of the mowers’ work, having cut the berm bare, including the stands of blooming wildflowers. Warning: disturbing and graphic photographs are included.

  • May 25, 2020
    Upright Prairie Coneflowers
  • May 25, 2020
    Uncommon Yellow Gaillardia pulchella amid normal Firewheels
  • May 25, 2020
    A diversity of native plants in bloom (with some invasives still standing)
  • May 26, 2020
    prostrate Prairie coneflowers
  • May 26, 2020
    Where the Gaillardia were in bloom
  • May 26, 2020
    A berm stripped bare, mowed while the ground and grass were wet

I quickly called Ecosystems Landscaping of Austin, the name of the company on the mower’s tee-shirt, who had simply waved at me and turned his mower in the opposite direction when I tried to flag him down. (Granted, I did not have a face mask on. Perhaps he was following COVID-19 prevention precautions).

I spoke on the phone with a Mr. Robert G., who basically let me vent while his company’s employees cut down all the wildflowers still standing on the berm, many of which were not yet in full bloom or had even gone to seed.

He told me that their contracts required them to mow within a certain date. I asked why there weren’t clause(s) that prohibited mowing under unsuitable conditions, such as following rains (we had received at least two inches of rain in the last three days, and the ground was still wet, as was the grass). He claimed that their mower blades were pressure washed before bringing the mowers to the site, and that the blades were set at least three inches high. (I advised him that the Texas DOT guidelines for roadside vegetation management recommend setting the blades at 7 inches for rural areas, and to avoid mowing next to natural preserve areas, which the greenbelt is). I suggested that the Lolium perenne (annual rye grass) and Centaurea melitensis (Malta star thistle), both highly invasive plants, could not have come in during the last two years in as great of numbers as they had without having been carried in on mower blades.

Although the following references are to the Texas Department of Transportation’s (TXDOT) online manual for roadside vegetation management, (click on the “Home” icon to view a PDF version) I remember learning that the first documented case of child abuse in the US was reported to the Animal Welfare Agency and was prosecuted under the laws regarding cruelty to animals. I think any claim that HOAs and other entities are not subject to the same guidelines are spurious by analogy. At best, such an argument is specious.

In short, I observed the following presumed violations of The Texas Department of Transportation guidelines to Roadway and Roadside Maintenance, to name a few:

  • Assumed violation of guideline on Invasive Species (Ch.1, Section 3) “which calls for pressure washing of mowing equipment before the equipment enters or leaves designated areas.” as outlined in Special Provision 730-003 (dated 2004) on Roadside mowing which requires notification of the engineer prior to the pressure washing of mowing equipment in order to ensure that plant materials are contained. (An assumption based on the resulting infestation of invasive exotic vegetation. I am willing to retract this assumption if anyone can provide proof of actual pressure washing before moving the mowers into the area. Video with a date stamp would be sufficient and easy to create with a smartphone). (Emphasis added).
  • Presumed violation of Section 4: Special Situations, which states “frequent mowing of of native grasses would allow noxious weeds to invade. … “should be cut no lower than seven inches to ensure survivability.” {emphasis added).
  • Presumed violation of Section 2: Preserving and Enhancing Habitat: “Diversity – both in plant variety and growth structure – is the key to preserving and enhancing wildlife habitat. … focus on encouraging a diverse native plant population that will provide abundant food and cover for a variety of wildlife.”
  • Obvious violation of Chapter 1 Section 3 – levels of management: ” Large stands of wildflowers including fall blooming nectar plants for pollinators should be avoided when mowing unless safety concerns arise.” (emphasis added).

I could go on.

But I am an elderly person with Parkinson’s Disease. I can’t go out waving my machete at the mowers to get them not to mow over stands of blooming wildflowers. I had thought about putting out signs saying “Wildflower Restoration In Progress – Do Not Mow” the day before, but I had other promises to keep. Maybe this Fall. At least I pulled the 10 bags of invasive plants in the last three months. There will be that many fewer invasive plant seeds, and perhaps the native grasses and wildflowers will have a better chance next year.

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Bouteloua gracilis – blue grama

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Bouteloua gracilis - blue grama

Bouteloua gracilis – blue grama

Blue Grama is a drought resistant native turfgrass that can be grown from seed.  It can easily be mistaken for Bouteloua hirsuta Hairy Grama if one doesn’t know that Hairy Grama has a “spike” or pointy end to its seedhead.  The Blue Grama pictured  above is spikeless or pointless, as it were. And the picture above doesn’t quite show a seedhead, since the florets are in bloom. The picture above was taken next to the Bluebonnet in the previous post, in the little patch of grass between the curb and the sidewalk.