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Another fire ant fiasco: Trying to eradicate or control widespread grass invasives
In the 1960s, and extending into the 1980s, large-scale government efforts to eradicate fire ants (Solenopsis invicta) in the United States of America failed miserably. This was in my thoughts as I read a fascinating and well-researched piece about efforts by the government to contain an invasive grass called Arundo donax in Texas, because even…
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King Bok: El Retiro’s Bambusa chungii at Bok Tower Gardens
When I became interested in banyan trees, I used to travel long distances to view individual specimens of these magnificent critters. By virtue of their lignified long-standing trunks and stems, it is possible for single tree specimens to last and be seen in one spot for multiple human generations. Most grasses do not have this…
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How grasses created traditional gender roles in human societies
In a post last year, we looked at how grasses shaped human evolution, which included changing the shape of our skulls and perhaps even the color of our skin. But the tight partnership between people and grains that started with the advent of agriculture, affected many things beyond just the human phenotype. There have been…
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How to identify herbaceous bamboos from non-bamboo grasses
In a previous post I talked about botanizing for the herbaceous bamboo Lithachne pauciflora in Montego Bay, Jamaica. This bamboo is quite small, and looks very much like any shade loving grass, with its wide leaves and short stature. Because of this, one of the readers asked how to identify the species and differentiate it…
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In Search of a Herbaceous Bamboo in Jamaica
Botanizing during a cruise is always fraught with certain limitations. Stops at locations generally are short, with most lasting only around 8 hours, and transportation is sometimes expensive or not available. Unfamiliarity with the location and allowances for personal safety also tend to be factors. In addition, you have to balance the needs of the…
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The State of some Florida Grasses after a Severely Cold Arctic Blast
An arctic blast brought freezing temperatures to Central Florida the last couple weeks. For three consecutive nights, temperatures dropped below freezing. In the aftermath of these disastrous weather events, whole swathes of herbaceous ornamentals, trees, and shrubs were left seemingly dead, their leaves turned a crinkly brown. Even the succulents were affected, with the big…
Sejarah Poaceae
The Story of Grasses – Grasslands and Grassy Open Ecosystems