About Danthonia intermedia Vasey
Danthonia intermedia Vasey is a species of grass that has the common names timber oatgrass, intermediate oatgrass, and mountain wild-oat grass. It is an erect, clumping perennial grass native to North America. It is widespread across most of Canada, and can be found along the western United States extending as far south as California. It grows in plains, forested areas, mountainous regions, and alpine environments. As a bunchgrass, it reaches a maximum height of about half a meter. Its leaves are short and mostly grow at the base of the plant. Each inflorescence forms a narrow cluster holding up to around ten spikelets, and each spikelet contains 3 to 6 florets. The flowers of this grass are cleistogamous, which means they stay closed and self-pollinate. This grass may also reproduce via apomixis, a form of reproduction that does not require fertilization. Its ability to reproduce without needing cross-pollination between individual plants is one reason it is so widespread and can tolerate a wide range of climates. It is considered a desirable grass for grazing land, because it starts growing earlier in the spring than most other grasses. It also tolerates heavy grazing better than many other grasses, due to its basal meristem; new growth forms low on the grass rather than at the tip, where grazing animals would chew it off. In many ecosystems, this grass is an indicator of ecological climax.
