ILLINOIS PLANT INFORMATION NETWORK
 
 ILPIN INFORMATION ON    Muhlenbergia cuspidata
 
 
 CLASS:    MONOCOTYLEDENAE
 ORDER:    CYPERALES
 FAMILY:   POACEAE
 SCIENTIFIC NAME:  Muhlenbergia cuspidata
 AUTHORITY:  (Torr.) Rydb.
 
 COMMON NAMES:
    PLAINS MUHLY
    PRAIRIE SATIN GRASS
    STONYHILLS MUHLY
 
 SYNONOMY:   None
 
 PLANTS CODE: MUCU3
 
 NATURAL COMMUNITIES:
     PRAIRIE
       GRAVEL PRAIRIE
         DRY
       DOLOMITE PRAIRIE
         DRY
       LISTED
         DOMINANT
     WETLAND
       FEN
         GRAMINOID
       LISTED
         CHARACTERISTIC
     PRIMARY
       GLADE
         LIMESTONE
       BLUFF
         CLIFF (ROCKY BLUFF)
           LIMESTONE
 
 
 SAF FOREST COVER TYPE:
     NO
 
 NATURAL DIVISION:  UNAVAILABLE
 
 COUNTIES:
   CASS            JERSEY          KANKAKEE        LASALLE         MONROE
   RANDOLPH        UNION           WILL
 
 GROWTH FORM:  Monocot
 
 TAXONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS:
    ROOTS:  Adventitious   (fibrous)
    LEAF ARRANGEMENT:   Alternate
    LEAF TYPE:   Simple
    LEAF MARGIN:   Entire
    LEAF VENATION:  Parallel
    LEAF SHAPE:     Linear
    INFLORESCENCE:   Panicle
    FLOWER MEROUS:  3
    FLOWER STRUCTURE:   Complete
    FLOWER PLACEMENT:  Hypogynous
    FRUIT:   Grain
 
 DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTIC COMMENTS:
     Cespitose culms strictly erect.  Very slender, contracted panicle.
     Distinct from other Muhlenbergia with contracted panicles, firm culm bases,
     and absence of rhizomes.
 
 GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION:
     ORIGIN:   Native
 
 GEOGRAPHIC COMMENTS:
     Near Joliet, on banks of DuPage River in Will County
 
 POPULATION DYNAMICS:
     STATE STATUS: Not listed
     FEDERAL STATUS: Not listed
     COMMONNESS:  Rare
     ENDEMIC:   NOT-ENDEMIC
 
 BIOLOGIC:
     HABIT:   Grasslike
     LIFE CYCLE:   Perennial
     REPRODUCTION:   Sexual
     FLOWERING PERIOD:
         MONTH BEGINNING-      8         MONTH END-     10
     TROPHIC STATUS:  Autotrophic
     C02 FIXATION:  C3
     SEX:      Perfect
 
 ECODISTRIBUTION COMMENTS:
     Elsewhere characteristic of edges of limestone bluffs that border limestone
     glades of the Ozarks. On the precipitous margins where it forms dense, wiry
     clumps.
 
 ENVIRONMENTAL RELATIONSHIPS:
     DISTURBANCE INDICATOR:   No
     SOIL CHEMISTRY INDICATOR:   None
     GROWTH OF SPECIES IN VARIOUS CONDITIONS:
          GRAVEL         Good               SAND           No data entered
          SANDY LOAM     No data entered    LOAM           No data entered
          CLAY LOAM      No data entered    CLAY           No data entered
          DENSE CLAY     No data entered    ORGANIC SOIL   No data entered
          NEUTRAL pH     No data entered    ACIDIC SOIL    No data entered
          EXTREMELY ACID No data entered    SALINE SOIL    No data entered
          SODIC SOIL     Good               SODIC-SALINE   No data entered
          ROCKY OUTCROPS Good               GENTLE SLOPES  Good
          MODERATE SLOPE Good               STEEP SLOPES   Fair
     PREFERRED ASPECT:   South   West       HABITAT:   Dry
 
 FUNCTIONAL RELATIONSHIPS:
     MAJOR POLLINATION AGENT:   Wind
     NITROGEN FIXING   No
 HUMAN RELATIONSHIP DATA:
     SHOWY FLOWERS:  NO
 
 WILDLIFE AND LIVESTOCK INFORMATION:
     FOOD VALUE:  No data entered
     COVER VALUE:  No data entered
 
 LIVESTOCK PALATABILITY DATA:
     CATTLE FORAGE: No data    SHEEP FORAGE:  No data    HORSE FORAGE:  No data
     GOAT FORAGE:   No data    ENERGY VALUE:  Medium     PROTEIN VALUE: Medium
     POISONOUS (LIVESTOCK):   No
 
 REVEGETATION PLANTINGS:
     WEEDINESS:   Non-weedy
 
 
 
 REFERENCES:
Steyermark, J. A.  1963.  Flora of Missouri.  Iowa State University Press, Ames.
     1725 pp.
Swink, F., and G. S. Wilhelm.  1979.  Plants of the Chicago region.  Third ed.
     The Morton Arboretum, Lisle, Illinois.  922 pp.
Mohlenbrock, R. H.  1967-continuing.  The illustrated flora of Illinois.
     Southern Illinois University Press, Carbondale.
White, J., and M. H. Madany.  1978.  Classification of natural communities in
     Illinois.  Pages 309-405 in J. White, ed., Illinois natural areas
     inventory technical report.  Vol. 1.  Survey methods and results.
     Illinois Natural Areas Inventory, Urbana.
Meeuse, B. J. D.  1961.  The story of pollination.  Ronald Press Company,
     New York.  243 pp.
 
 END OF DATA FOR SPECIES  Muhlenbergia cuspidata
 
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 ILPIN was developed by Louis Iverson*, with data compiled by David Ketzner and Jeanne Karnes
 Illinois Natural History Survey, 607 E. Peabody Dr., Champaign, IL 61820
     *currently employed by USDA Forest Service, 359 Main Rd., Delaware, OH 43015