Integrative Natural History of Indiana Dunes State Park, Part 10: Portrait of a Bottlebrush | Indiana, USA
Another look at Bottlebrush Grass, or Elymus hystrix. Taken near the northern end of the park's Trail 2 swamp boardwalk.
This close-up of one plant's flowering spike offers a good look at the individual spikelets, or flower-containing structures characteristic of the Poaceae (Grass Family). These contain highly simplified flowers called florets.
Because they're wind-pollinated, the florets have no need to produce showy or colorful structures to attract animal visitors. But once you become accustomed to the grasses and the endless variations of their floral architecture, you'll realize their beauty is second to none.
In the case of E. hystrix, there are characteristically two long-awned spikelets at each of the spike's nodes, or attachment points.
The other photos and descriptions of this series can be found in my Integrative Natural History of Indiana Dunes State Park album.
Integrative Natural History of Indiana Dunes State Park, Part 10: Portrait of a Bottlebrush | Indiana, USA
Another look at Bottlebrush Grass, or Elymus hystrix. Taken near the northern end of the park's Trail 2 swamp boardwalk.
This close-up of one plant's flowering spike offers a good look at the individual spikelets, or flower-containing structures characteristic of the Poaceae (Grass Family). These contain highly simplified flowers called florets.
Because they're wind-pollinated, the florets have no need to produce showy or colorful structures to attract animal visitors. But once you become accustomed to the grasses and the endless variations of their floral architecture, you'll realize their beauty is second to none.
In the case of E. hystrix, there are characteristically two long-awned spikelets at each of the spike's nodes, or attachment points.
The other photos and descriptions of this series can be found in my Integrative Natural History of Indiana Dunes State Park album.