Prepare to step into the world of grasses and sedges, a world that is perhaps easily overlooked. Yet surprisingly, did you know that grassland habitat covers up to 20% of the vegetation cover of our planet. Next time you are out and about, why not look down and explore the world below your feet. For the next 12 weeks, I will let you reed the clues and wander through the maize of possible answers.Enjoy!MYSTERY GRASS & SEDGE QUIZ #5Clue: You might not want to wag this?
Mares tail a very old type of sedge reed, is thought to be from the Jurassic period.
Clue: Once the material for fashionable ladies head gear.
Good clue for you E!!! Lol
2013 photos & vids here
eff37 on Flickr
Looks like Ray is on the money.
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Tony
My Flickr Photostream
fingers crossed
Ray
edit it grows in the area of the upper river Ray Bucks lol
a good laugh is better than a tonic
Oooh, you must be famous to have a river named after you!! Lol
Just to be different I think Pampas grass was used to decorate ladies hats back in Victorian times but I reckon Ray has won the cigar.
Pete
Birding is for everyone no matter how good or bad we are at it,enjoy it while you can
Congratulations to all of you who guessed Crested dogstail grass (Cynosaurus cristatus). Let’s start with the clues! First clue: You might not want to wag this. No footballer’s wives reference here I’m afraid. Dog’s wag their tails, but they might not want to (especially if they wag it as much my dog does, to the extent she hits the side of her own body) if there is a sharp pointed crest on it! Ouch! The second clue: Once the material for fashionable ladies head gear. Crested dogstail grass was once grown as a crop and used to make bonnets – a fashionable ladies hat (head gear), especially in the Victorian era.
Crested dogstail grass is a short-lived perennial that grows in tufts and can grow up to 75cm in height. Though you may struggle to find it in limy, water-logged or acidic soils, it is tolerant of most other soil types and is often found in lowland meadows and grasslands. The leaves of this grass are narrow and hairless and the ligules are short and blunt. At the end of the stem, there are spikelets that contain the flowers and these form a long rectangular shape.
A picture of Crested dogstail grass is found here.
Did you know that: Crested dogstail grass was also used as a rat-killer.
Keep an eye out for next week’s Mystery Grass & Sedge quiz here soon!
Take care,
Claire
E triumphs again!!!
Another long weekend Mrs T? Make it a good one, weather looks to be good!
Well done Elvis! And yes Wendy another long weekend ;)