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In Search of Shady Characters: Botanizing for Ichnanthus pallens and Lasiacis divaricata
As mentioned in recent posts, the shady understory of forests is normally not the optimal environment for grasses. And yet, many from an entire subfamily of the Poaceae (the Bamboos of subfamily Bambusoideae) and others such as species from genus Oplismenus (e.g. the invasive Oplismenus undulatifolius) and Microstegium (e.g. the invasive Microstegium vimineum) have adapted…
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A Race Against Time: Oryza sativa (Rice) vs Climate Change
There is no doubts at all that the climate is changing rapidly, and that the average yearly surface temperature has been increasing over the years, with the ten most recent years being the warmest on record. The focus of naturalists and nature lovers in many cases has been on the effect of such warming on…
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By their ornamental grasses ye shall know them
I’ve stayed in the Denver, Colorado area twice in two years, and one of the most noticeable patterns I’ve noticed is the lavish use of certain specific ornamental grasses as an integral part of the urban and suburban landscape. In this case, some places had seriously abundant clusters of the beautiful Calamagrostis x acutiflora ‘Karl…
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Botanizing for Munroa squarrosa in Colorado and Creating a Search Image
Important: Unfortunately, due to damage to my flash during the hike at the Sherpa Steps or Nordkapptrappa (North Cape Staircase), in Honningsvåg, macrophotographs taken were of subpar quality. Thanks to Tom Chester, who noted that what I mentioned might be salt on a specimen, was actually a sand grain. I was excited about the trip…
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Quick 2025 Update on Imperata cylindrica in Colorado
I did a quick visit to the site of the cogon infestation that was reported in Colorado in 2023. The original article in 2023: Cogon in Colorado: An Alarming Case of Natural Reversion from the Ornamental Variety Two years after being reported and treated, the infestation of cogon still managed to show itself. It looks…
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In the Shadow of Giants: When Grasses Started their Quest for World Domination
The Fraser River Trail that runs along the Fraser River and connects the town of Fraser, CO and Winter Park, CO passes through various habitats, from meadows to suburban paths, and even to dark quiet areas covered by tall conifers. It is a paved and easy trail that i would highly recommend to anyone interested…
Sejarah Poaceae (Volume 2)
The Story of Grasses – Grasslands and Grassy Open Ecosystems