Chloris verticillata Nutt., Eriochloa villosa (Thunb.) Kunth, and Miscanthus sacchariflorus (Maxim.) Hack., are reported as three grasses new to the Iowa flora

Pohl, Richard W.

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University of Northern Iowa

Proceedings of the Iowa Academy of ScienceVolume 66 | Annual Issue Article 221959Introduced Weedy Grasses in IowaRichard W. PohlIowa State UniversityCopyright © Copyright 1959 by the Iowa Academy of Science, Inc.Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.uni.edu/piasThis Research is brought to you for free and open access by UNI ScholarWorks. It has been accepted for inclusion in Proceedings of the Iowa Academyof Science by an authorized editor of UNI ScholarWorks. For more information, please contact scholarworks@uni.edu.Recommended CitationPohl, Richard W. (1959) "Introduced Weedy Grasses in Iowa," Proceedings of the Iowa Academy of Science: Vol. 66: No. 1 , Article 22.Available at: https://scholarworks.uni.edu/pias/vol66/iss1/22Introduced Weedy Grasses in Iowa1 By RICHARD w. POHL Abstract. Chloris verticillata Nutt., Eriochloa villosa (Thunb.) Kunth, and Miscanthus sacchariflorus (Maxim.) Hack., are re-ported as three grasses new to the Iowa flora. The following grasses new to the Iowa flora have been recorded in recent years. Chloris verticillata Nutt. This species is native to the southwestern states and is adventive in Iowa. In each locality, the plant has been found in lawns. Since Chloris verticillata seed has occasionally been found in lawn seed mixtures by Iowa State College seed analysts, it seems likely the species entered the state in lawn seed. Well established colonies o.f this species occur on the embankments of the underpass beneath the Chicago and Northwestern Railroad at Ames (this colony has been observed for twelve years) and on the lawn northeast of the State House in Des Moines. The her barium has the following records: Story County: Several patches in lawn, underpass beneath C. & N.W. R.R. in Ames. August 14, 1947. R. W. Pohl 7196 (ISC). Wapello County: In bluegrass turf of yard, Ottumwa. June 28, 1938. R. M. Hurd (ISC). Eriochloa villosa (Thunb.) Kunth (Figure 1) The genus Eriochloa is known in Iowa only by a single collection of this Asiatic species. E. villosa was previously recorded from the United States by Hitchcock (1951) from Oregon and Colorado. Ringgold County: SW~ of NE~, Sec. 4, Jefferson Twp. Land of Harold Cunningham. Len R. Beath (ISC 225551). August 8, 1957. Miscanthus sacchariflorus (Maxim.) Hack. (Figure 2) This Asiatic species has been sparingly cultivated for ornament and shows strong tendencies to escape. Hitchcock ( 19 51) was the first to report this species from the wild. The Hitchcock report indi-!Journal Paper No. J-3630 of the Iowa Agricultural and Home Economics Experiment Station, Ames, Iowa. Project 1136. The facilities of the Iowa State College Herbarium, supported by the Industrial Science Research Institute, have been used in preparation of this paper. 160 1Pohl: Introduced Weedy Grasses in IowaPublished by UNI ScholarWorks, 19591959] WEEDY GRASSES 161 cated that the species occurred in Clinton County. It is possible to see the plants in flower in low-lying areas along Highway 30 in this county. 1l1iscanthus sacchariflorus was cultivated for ornament as early as 1942 in the Herbaceous Garden on the Iowa State College Campus. Here it spread aggressively until it was destroyed. The plants reach 2 m. or more in height and spread by numerous vigorous rhizomes. In growth habits, M. sacchariftorus resembles Johnson grass. A col-ony along Highway 30 just southwest of Lowden has spread to Figure I. Eriochloa 'Villosa. Inflore~encr and spikelets" occupy at least 100 sq. m. Another colony south of Ottumwa shows several small patches remote from the original planting site. Pre-sumably these arose from seed. During the past year a number of requests for identification of this species have been received from the public. These requests in-dicate that the plant is growing in or near Gladbrook, Vinton, Bran-don, and Washington. Inflorescences being used in winter bouquets 2Proceedings of the Iowa Academy of Science, Vol. 66 [1959], No. 1, Art. 22https://scholarworks.uni.edu/pias/vol66/iss1/22162 IOWA ACADEMY OF SCIENCE [Vol. 66 have been observed also in a number of instances. Apparently the plant is spreading rapidly in Iowa and may become a serious pest. Herbarium records from Iowa State College and the State University of Iowa indicate Miscanthus sacchariftorus in Winneshiek, Webster, Story, Jones, Dallas, Johnson, Cedar, Montgomery, Wapello, and Lee counties. In addition, sight records or inquiries from the public show its probable presence in Buchanan, Tama, Benton, and Wash-ington counties. Figure 2. Miscanthus sacchariftorus. Panicle, •pikelet pair, rhizomatGus base of plant. Literature Cited Hitchcock, A. S. 1951. Manual of the Grasses of the United States. U.S.D.A. Misc. Pub. 200. Revised Edition, by Agnes Chase. DEPARTMENT OF BOTANY AND PLANT PATHOLOGY loWA STATE UNIVERSITY AMES, IOWA 3Pohl: Introduced Weedy Grasses in IowaPublished by UNI ScholarWorks, 1959

Introduced Weedy Grasses in Iowa

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Introduced Weedy Grasses in Iowa

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