Natural history of Arkansas

Source: Wikipedia. Pages: 35. Chapters: Flora of Arkansas, Lists of fauna of Arkansas, Fraxinus americana, Panicum virgatum, Utricularia inflata, Lindera melissifolia, Crater of Diamonds State Park, Piney Woods, Arisaema triphyllum, Ceanothus americanus, Petit Jean State Park, Antlers Formation, Cypripedium reginae, Hydrangea arborescens, Bouteloua dactyloides, Geocarpon, Asarum canadense, Allium canadense, Oenothera speciosa, Lindera benzoin, Sabatia arkansana, Trillium sessile, Ambrosia artemisiifolia, Lobelia inflata, Vitis palmata, Carex pensylvanica, Symphyotrichum novae-angliae, Ambrosia trifida, Arkansaurus, List of snakes of Arkansas, Opuntia humifusa, Gelsemium sempervirens, Smilax rotundifolia, Ribes missouriense, Virginia Bluebell, Gurdon Light, Hydrocotyle ranunculoides, Cnidoscolus texanus, Calopogon tuberosus, Phlox divaricata, Procambarus liberorum, Utricularia cornuta, Iris cristata, Phoradendron leucarpum, Fourche Creek, Galearis spectabilis, Campanula americana, Aplectrum, Dodecatheon meadia, Liatris compacta, Polygonatum biflorum, Echinacea sanguinea, Utricularia radiata, Hydrophyllum virginianum, Vaccinium elliottii, Portulaca pilosa, Mespilus canescens, Athyrium asplenioides, Procambarus tenuis, Crataegus arborea, Rosa palustris, Ozark Highlands Trail, Ozark Mountain forests, Amsonia hubrichtii. Excerpt: Panicum virgatum, commonly known as switchgrass, is a perennial warm season bunchgrass native to North America, where it occurs naturally from 55°N latitude in Canada southwards into the United States and Mexico. Switchgrass is one of the dominant species of the central North American tallgrass prairie and can be found in remnant prairies, in native grass pastures, and naturalized along roadsides. It is used primarily for soil conservation, forage production, game cover, as an ornamental grass, and more recently as a biomass crop for ethanol and butanol, in phytoremediation projects, fiber, electricity, and heat production and for biosequestration of atmospheric carbon dioxide. Other common names for switchgrass include tall panic grass, Wobsqua grass, blackbent, tall prairiegrass, wild redtop, thatchgrass, and Virginia switchgrass. Root system of switchgrass grown at the Land InstituteSwitchgrass is a hardy, deep-rooted, perennial rhizomatous grass that begins growth in late spring. It can grow up to 2.7 m high, but is typically shorter than big bluestem grass or indiangrass. The leaves are 30-90 cm long, with a prominent midrib. Switchgrass uses C4 carbon fixation, giving it an advantage in conditions of drought and high temperature. Its flowers have a well-developed panicle, often up to 60 cm long, and it bears a good crop of seeds. The seeds are 3-6 mm long and up to 1.5 mm wide, and are developed from a single-flowered spikelet. Both glumes are present and well developed. When ripe, the seeds sometimes take on a pink or dull-purple tinge, and turn golden brown with the foliage of the plant in the fall. Switchgrass is both a perennial and self-seeding crop, which means farmers do not have to plant and reseed after annual harvesting. Once established, a switchgrass stand can survive for ten years or longer. Unlike corn, switchgrass can grow on marginal lands and requires relatively modest levels of chemical fertilizers. Overall, it is considered a resource-effici