Tuesday, September 8, 2009

Another Plant Quiz


Good call Mary! Diarrhena americana it is - American Beak Grass, or Beak Grain. This uncommon, native grass is easiest to locate in late fall when the entire plant turns bright orange, after the surrounding vegetation thins out. It is well known for holding on to last year's grain well into the following spring. I have always thought it looks remarkably like a Carex, superficially at least.
Both photos are rejects, but they are interesting because I never saw the Crane Fly until I viewed them on the computer. Photographed on sandy alluvium in relatively deep shade, slightly elevated above a woodland stream.