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Dactylis glomerata

(Cocksfoot)

Overview

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Interesting Facts

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Common Names

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Click on the language to view common names.

Common Names in English:

Cocksfoot, Barnyard Grass, Cocksfoot Grass, Cockspur, Orchard Grass, Orchard-Grass, Orchardgrass

Common Names in French:

Dactyle Pelotonné, Gramen Pelotonné

Common Names in German:

Knaulgras

Common Names in Italian:

Erba Mazzolina, Mazzolina

Common Names in Portuguese:

Dactilo, Panasco

Common Names in Russian:

Eža Sbornaja, ежа сборная

Common Names in Spanish:

Dactilo Aglomerado, Jopillo

Common Names in Swedish:

Hundäxing

Description

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Physical Description

Species Dactylis glomerata

Perennial , coarse . Culms solitary or tufted , erect or geniculate at base , 40-140 cm tall. Leaf sheaths strongly keeled ; leaf blades flat, (6-) 10-30 cm × 4-9 mm, abaxial surface scabrid along midrib and margin ; ligule 4-8 mm. Panicle oblong to ovate in outline, 5-15 cm; branches single or rarely paired at base, (3-) 5-15 cm, horizontal or ascending , lower part naked, upper part with dense fascicles of spikelets . Spikelets oblong to wedge-shaped, 5-9 mm, florets closely overlapping, green or purplish; glumes 4-5(-6.5) mm, scabrid or ciliolate along keel, margins membranous, apex acute to acuminate; lemmas 4-7 mm, lowest subequal to spikelet, scabrid or flanks short-pilose, apex with stout awn up to 1.5 mm. Anthers ca. 2.5 mm. Fl. and fr. May-Aug. 2n = 14, 28, 42. [source]

The typical form, subsp. glomerata (2n = 28), has a relatively compact panicle, broad spikelet fascicles, and conspicuously ciliate lemma keels. Other forms, widespread in China and the Himalayas, have a looser panicle with long flexuose branches, narrower spikelet fascicles, and only minutely ciliolate lemma keels. The names subsp. sinensis, subsp. himalayensis, and the European name subsp. slovenica (Domin) Domin have been applied to these forms. A chromosome count of 2n = 14 has been recorded for subsp. himalayensis. The basis of this variation , the correct application of these names, and their relationship to similar variants from outside China are not yet understood. [source]

Habit: Graminoid

Flowers: Bloom Period: April, May, June. • Flower Color: green

Size/Age/Growth

Size: 12-18" tall.

Habitat

Mountain slopes , light forest shade, other grassy places; 1400-3600 m [1].

Typically found at an altitude of 0 to 4,653 meters (0 to 15,266 feet).[2]

Biology

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Reproduction

Duration: Perennial

Growth

Culture: Space 3-6" apart.

Soil: Minimum pH: 5.6 • Maximum pH: 7.5

Sunlight: Sun Exposure: Sun to Partial Shade.

Temperature: Cold Hardiness: 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b. (map)

Taxonomy

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Synonyms

Bromus glomeratus (L.) Scop. • D. glom-erata sinensis A. Camus • D. glomerata altaica (Besser) Domin • D. glomerata himalay-ensis Domin. • D. glomerata var. altaica (Besser) Keng • Dactylis altaica Besser • Festuca glomerata (L.) All. • Festuca glomerata (L.) Spreng.

Notes

Name Status: Accepted Name .

Last scrutiny: 15-Mar-2000

Similar Species

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Members of the genus Dactylis

ZipcodeZoo has pages for 5 species, subspecies, varieties, forms, and cultivars in this genus:

D. glomerata (Cocksfoot) · D. glomerata aschersoniana (Cocksfoot) · D. glomerata glomerata (Cocksfoot) · D. glomerata hispanica (Cocksfoot) · D. glomerata 'Variegata' (Orchard Grass)

More Info

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Further Reading

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Notes

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Contributors

Data Sources

Accessed through GBIF Data Portal November 13, 2007:

Identifiers

Footnotes

  1. "Dactylis glomerata". in Flora of China Vol. 22 Page 310. Missouri Botanical Garden Press. Online at EFloras.org. [back]
  2. Mean = 291.340 meters (955.840 feet), Standard Deviation = 535.420 based on 3,765 observations. Altitude information for each observation from British Oceanographic Data Centre. [back]
Last Revised: 7/15/2012