Harman Patil (Editor)

Cynosurus cristatus

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Kingdom
  
Family
  
Scientific name
  
Cynosurus cristatus

Rank
  
Species

Order
  
Genus
  
Cynosurus

Higher classification
  
Cynosurus

Cynosurus cristatus warehouse1indiciaorgukuploadDog39stail2

Similar
  
Cynosurus, Grasses, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Holcus lanatus, Agrostis capillaris

Cynosurus cristatus kamgras


Cynosurus cristatus, Crested dog's-tail, is a short-lived perennial grass in the family Poaceae, characterised by a seed head that is flat on one side. It typically grows in species rich grassland. It thrives in a variety of soil types but avoids the acid and calcareous extremes of pH, and prefers well drained soils. It may be grown as an ornamental plant.

Contents

Cynosurus cristatus Cynosurus cristatus Wikipedia

It is also known as crételle (French) and Wiesen-Kammgras (German, meaning meadow comb-grass). The Latin Cynosurus cristatus means 'addled crested or tufted'.

Cynosurus cristatus Cynosurus cristatus L Checklist View

Locations

Cynosurus cristatus Cynosurus cristatus Vikipedio

It is found in most parts of Europe and South West Asia, and has been introduced into North America, Australia and New Zealand, from near sea level up to about 2000 feet, in all soil types.

Flowers

It flowers from June to August.

Identification

Cynosurus cristatus Cynosurus cristatus Crested Dogstail w Wild Grasses Species

It is perennial with a slighted tufted habit, a slender stem, 15 to 45 cm high, leafy at the base and thus suitable for grazing by sheep.

Cynosurus cristatus Cynosurus cristatus Wikipedia

The spikelets are fertile or sterile, mixed within the same cluster. They are oblong or wedge shaped, 3–6 mm long, with 2 to 5 flowers.

The ligule is blunt. Leaves are folded in shoot.

Cynosurus cristatus Cynosurus cristatus L Crested Dog39stail Flora of Northern Ireland

Leaves are pointed at the tip, flat (not boat-shaped). The lower side of the leaf is smooth, glossy and keeled. The upper side is ribbed. Other grasses with glossy leaves include Lolium perenne and Poa trivialis.

Uses

Cynosurus cristatus Online Virtual Flora of Wisconsin Cynosurus cristatus

It is grazed by sheep as it is leafy at the base. It can withstand cold and drought and remains green during the winter. Cattle and sheep will eat the young leaves eagerly, but leave the stiff, hard stems alone.

It has been used for straw plaiting hats and other similar uses.

It is a foodplant for the skipper butterfly and brown butterfly families. It also used as a rat killer.

References

Cynosurus cristatus Wikipedia