Tussock grasses or bunch grasses are a group of grass species in the family Poaceae. They usually grow as singular plants in clumps, tufts, hummocks, or bunches, rather than forming a sod or lawn, in meadows, grasslands, and prairies. As perennial plants, most species live more than one season. Tussock grasses are often found as forage in pastures and ornamental grasses in gardens.[1][2][3]
Many species have long roots that may reach 2 meters (6.6 ft) or more into the soil, which can aid slope stabilization, erosion control, and soil porosity for precipitation absorption. Also, their roots can reach moisture more deeply than other grasses and annual plants during seasonal or climatic droughts. The plants provide habitat and food for insects (including Lepidoptera), birds, small animals and larger herbivores, and support beneficial soil mycorrhiza. The leaves supply material, such as for basket weaving, for indigenous peoples and contemporary artists.
Tussock and bunch grasses occur in almost any habitat where other grasses are found, including: grasslands, savannas and prairies, wetlands and estuaries, riparian zones, shrublands and scrublands, woodlands and forests, montane and alpine zones, tundra and dunes, and deserts.
Tussock-bunch grasslands, dormant season, in the Falkland Islands in the south AtlanticBunch-tussock grasses in the Konza tallgrass prairie
^Cite error: The named reference Groves was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^Cite error: The named reference Crampton was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^Cite error: The named reference Walker was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
Tussockgrasses or bunch grasses are a group of grass species in the family Poaceae. They usually grow as singular plants in clumps, tufts, hummocks,...
highest densities in fields of tussockgrass (Spartina arundinacea), with 10 birds per hectare, and in tussockgrass mixed with ferns (Blechnum penna-marina)...
Poa labillardierei, also known as common tussock-grass, is a species of tussockgrass that is endemic to Australia. It is found in southern and eastern...
Look up tussock in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. Tussock may refer to: Tussockgrass, a group of species in the family Poaceae Floating island Lymantriinae...
Tussock grassland is a form of open grassland that is dominated by tussockgrasses (also called bunchgrasses). It is common in some temperate grasslands...
Poa sieberiana, commonly known as grey tussock-grass and snow grass, is a species of tussockgrass that is endemic to Australia. The species was formally...
poiformis, commonly known as coast tussock-grass or blue tussock-grass, is a densely tufted, erect, perennial tussockgrass, with distinctive blue-green leaves...
Chionochloa dominate in these areas. The larger tussocks are called snow grass (or less commonly snow tussocks) and may grow up to 2 metres (6 ft 7 in) in...
Heteropogon contortus is a tropical, perennial tussockgrass with a native distribution encompassing Southern Africa, southern Asia, Northern Australia...
ensiformis, commonly known as sword tussock-grass or purple-sheathed tussock-grass, is a species of tussockgrass that is endemic to Australia. The species...
Poa flabellata, commonly known as tussac grass or just tussac, is a tussockgrass native to southern South America, the Falkland Islands, South Georgia...
pagenstecheri, also known commonly as the southern grasstussock skink or the southern tussockgrass skink, is a species of lizard in the family Scincidae...
bamboos, are evergreen, and a few are annuals. Many are bunch grasses and tussockgrasses, though others form extensive systems of many-branched rhizomes...
cespitosa, commonly known as tufted hairgrass or tussockgrass, is a perennial tufted plant in the grass family Poaceae. Distribution of this species is...
decumbens) is a species of grass commonly known as the heath grass, heath-grass, or staggers grass It is a tussockgrass native to Europe and adjacent...
tussock (N. trichotoma) and Chilean needle grass (N. neesiana), both designated Weeds of National Significance because they displace pasture grasses and...
Antarctic Survey (BAS), 1972–73, it was named after the thick mantle of tussockgrass (Poa flabellata) that grows on the island. List of Antarctic and sub-Antarctic...
wallaby grass, is an Australian species of tussockgrass found in Victoria, New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory. The grass has flowers...
Poa foliosa is a species of tussockgrass commonly known as muttonbird poa. It is native to the subantarctic islands of New Zealand and Australia. Poa...
Poa morrisii, commonly known as soft tussock-grass is a species of tussockgrass that is endemic to Australia. The species was formally described in 1970...
female dark brown all over. Its natural habitat is tussock grassland dominated by Poa tussockgrass, ferns and megaherbs. The species also uses the burrows...
is the heraldic device consisting of a shield charged with a ram on tussockgrass in a blue field at the top and a sailing ship on white and blue wavy...
hollow lined with vegetation and down, usually constructed amongst tussockgrass, rocks, or bushes. The nest is mainly constructed by the male but lined...
animals, weeds, and uncontrolled grazing. Great Sandy Desert from space Tussockgrass in Gibson Desert Kangaroo in Nambung National Park Simpson Desert near...
Global Information
