Grass Families
In the first in this series on ornamental grasses for shade, I quoted this little poem by an unknown author:
Sedges have edges and rushes are round, grasses are hollow and rush all around.
Although we tend to talk about all ornamental grasses as "grasses", sedges belong to the family Cyperaceae and within that family, the genera Carex; rushes to Juncaceae and the true grasses to Gramineae(syn. Poaceae ). I'm repeating this because, past articles have dealt with one grass from each family. This week, the subject is another true grass.
Milium effusum or Millet Grass
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The grass family (Gramineae, syn. Poaceae) with approximately 10,000 species and 660 genera is the most ecologically and economically important of all plant families. Botanical description of Milium (wherein I discover that many species are bisexual and hermaphrodite.) |
There are about seven hundred genera within the family Gramineae. Milium effusum is one of ten species listed in GRIN for the genus Milium. The Missouri Botanical Garden's New World Grass Checklist lists fifty-nine taxon for the genera, but it seems to my untutored eye that many of the names are synonyms for other species. It also lists one variety for the species that's the focus of this article, Milium effusum var. cisatlanticum. The genus contains both annual and perennial grasses, some of which are classed as noxious weeds.
Milium effusum, AKA millet grass, wood millet, American millet grass, and three flowered melic, is among the 193 threatened and endangered Illinois species that depend on forest ecosystems and it is on the list of threatened natives in North Carolina. It is also, interestingly, among the characteristic species of Ancient Woodlands in the UK.
'Bowles' Golden Grass
The only one that is commonly grown in gardens is Milium effusum 'Aureum', known as 'Bowles' golden grass or golden millet grass. As you can see, this makes a gracefully flowing clump that looks good by itself or in a group. Clumps get about eighteen inches (45.72 cm) tall after a few years. Mine is slightly less than that in diameter, but I expect it to increase and have allowed space accordingly.
One of my sources does indicate that the species would also make a good garden plant as its light, bright green foliage is effective against a darker background. It also notes that there is a variety, Milium effusum 'Variegatum' whose leaves are variegated in white. This is supposedly a striking plant, but a weak grower. Being a variegated foliage nut, I'd love to get my hands on one of these.
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