Tripidium ravennae

Ravennagrass
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Clade: Commelinids
Order: Poales
Family: Poaceae
Subfamily: Panicoideae
Genus: Tripidium
Species:
T. ravennae
Binomial name
Tripidium ravennae
(L.) H.Scholz[1]
Synonyms[1]
  • Agrostis ravennae (L.) P.Beauv.
  • Andropogon caudatus M.Bieb.
  • Andropogon ravennae L.
  • Erianthus elephantinus Hook.f.
  • Erianthus jamaicensis (Trin.) Andersson
  • Erianthus monstieri Carrière
  • Erianthus parviflorus Pilg.
  • Erianthus purpurascens Andersson
  • Erianthus ravennae (L.) P.Beauv.
  • Erianthus ravennae var. jamaicensis (Trin.) Hack.
  • Erianthus ravennae subsp. parviflorus (Pilg.) H.Scholz
  • Erianthus scriptorius Bubani
  • Ripidium elephantinum (Hook.f.) Grassl
  • Ripidium ravennae (L.) Trin.
  • Saccharum elephantinum (Hook.f.) V.Naray. ex Bor
  • Saccharum jamaicense Trin.
  • Saccharum parviflorum (Pilg.) Pilg.
  • Saccharum ravennae (L.) L.
  • Tripidium ravennae subsp. parviflorum (Pilg.) H.Scholz

Tripidium ravennae, synonym Saccharum ravennae (and many others),[1] with the common names ravennagrass[2] and elephant grass, is a species of grass in the genus Tripidium. It is native to Southern Europe, Western Asia and South Asia. It is known in North America as an introduced species, where it is sometimes an invasive and troublesome noxious weed.

Uses

Ravennagrass is a large, aggressive grass that has been sold in nurseries for use as an ornamental grass in gardens, and for stabilizing soil to prevent erosion. It is sold under the name "hardy pampas grass."

Invasive species

Tripidium ravennae is now established as an invasive species in several parts of North America, including Glen Canyon National Recreation Area[3] in Utah, the Rio Grande Valley State Park in Albuquerque, New Mexico,[4] and parts of California.[5] It grows in the moist soil of riparian habitats including marshes and riverbanks.

This perennial grass grows in large, dense clumps from a network of rhizomes. It produces erect stems which can reach 13 ft (4m) in height. The serrated leaves are up to a meter long. The inflorescence is a plume-like panicle of spikelets covered in white or pale-colored silky hairs.

References

  1. ^ a b c "Tripidium ravennae (L.) H.Scholz". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 2021-09-04.
  2. ^ NRCS. "Saccharum ravennae". PLANTS Database. United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Retrieved 26 October 2015.
  3. ^ National Park Service: Glen Canyon
  4. ^ McKenna, Chad; Caplan, Todd (June 30, 2016). "City of Albuquerque Bosque Management Plan: Central Avenue to Campbell Road" (PDF). GeoSystems Analysis.
  5. ^ California Invasive Plant Council