Purple Moor Grass

Purple Moor Grass

Taxobox
name = Purple Moor Grass


image_width = 204px
image_caption = Habitus
regnum = Plantae
divisio = Magnoliophyta
classis = Liliopsida
ordo = Poales
familia = Poaceae
genus = "Molinia"
species = "M. caerulea"
binomial = "Molinia caerulea"
binomial_authority = (L.) Moench
synonyms ="Aira caerulea"

Purple Moor Grass ("Molinia caerulea") is a grass native to Europe, west Asia, north Africa and the east of North America. It grows in locations from the lowlands up to 2300 m in the Alps. Like most grasses, it grows best in acid soils, idealy pH values of between 3.5 to 5, however, it can continue to live under more extreme conditions, sometimes to as low as 2.

It is a tussock forming perennial, growing up to 90cm tall. Due to the dense tussock it is very resistant to heath fires. It's ligule is a ring of hairs. The long narrow purple spikelets are a major identification feature.

If flowers August and September, later than any other species.

The caterpillars of some Lepidoptera use it as a foodplant, e.g. the Chequered Skipper ("Carterocephalus palaemon").

Purple Moor and Rush Pastures is a UK Biodiversity Action Plan habitat, on account of its rarity.

References

* [http://www.fao.org/ag/AGP/AGPC/doc/Gbase/DATA/Pf000450.htm Food and agriculture organization of the United Nations page on purple moor grass] .
* [http://www.ukbap.org.uk/UKPlans.aspx?ID=17 UK BAP Purple Moor and Rush Pastures]
* Collins Pocket Guide Grasses Sedges Rushes and Ferns of Britain and Northern Europe, R Fitter, A Fitter, A Farrer


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