slough grass

Thân thiện

A farmer cuts slough grass in a wetland meadow.

Definition

Noun: 1. A type of North American cordgrass: This term refers specifically to a species of grass (Spartina pectinata) native to North America. It is characterized by its tough, narrow leaves that have dry, papery edges (membranous margins) and flower clusters (spikes) where the husks (glumes) surrounding the flowers possess long, bristle-like extensions (awns). It commonly grows in wet, marshy areas like sloughs (slow-moving streams or marshes).

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The dense stands of slough grass help stabilize the banks of the marsh.
  • Botanists identified the dominant vegetation in the wetland as slough grass.
  • The long awns of the slough grass glumes are a key identifying feature.

Advanced Usage

• Ecological Role: In technical or ecological writing, "slough grass" is noted for its role in wetland ecosystems, providing habitat and preventing erosion.
  • The restoration project involved replanting native slough grass to improve the wetland's health.

Variants and Related Words

• Prairie cordgrass: A common alternative name for the same plant species ().
• Ripgut (colloquial): A regional name sometimes used for this grass, referring to the rough, sharp edges of its leaves.
• Cordgrass (n): The general genus () to which slough grass belongs.

Synonyms

• Prairie cordgrass
• (Scientific name)

Notes on Meaning

This is a specific botanical term for a particular plant species. It is not a general term for grass found in a slough but refers to this specific cordgrass. The definition is highly precise, focusing on the plant's physical characteristics (leaf margins, glumes with awns) and its native habitat.

Học thuật

Noun

1. North American cordgrass having leaves with dry membranous margins and glumes with long awns

Từ đồng nghĩa

• prairie cordgrass
• freshwater cordgrass
• Spartina pectinmata