Strickland, Sam C.
Muhlenbergia capillaris (Lam.) Trin.
Gulf muhly, Hair-awn muhly, Hairy-awn muhly, Hair grass, Pink muhly
Poaceae (Grass Family)
Hairy-awn muhly or gulf muhly is a 1 1/2-3 ft.,
perennial grass with a large, airy, much-branched seed
head up to half as long as the
entire plant. The spikelets are purple. In fall the plant takes on a feathery, deep pink hue.
The
genus of this plant is named for Gotthilf Heinrich Ernst Muhlenberg (1753-1815), also Heinrich Ludwig Muehlenberg, or Henry Muhlenberg, who was a German-educated Lutheran minister and the first president of Franklin College, now Franklin and Marshall College, Pennsylvania. He is most famous due to his work in the field of botany. An accomplished botanist, chemist, and minerologist, Henry is credited with classifying and naming 150 species of plants in his 1785 work
Index Flora Lancastriensis. Muhlenbergs work and collaboration with European botanists led to great advances in the study of plants and earned him the distinction as Americas first outstanding botanist.
Image Gallery:
9 photo(s) available
Bloom Information
Bloom Color: Pink , Purple
Bloom Time: Oct
Distribution
USA: AL , AR , CT , DE , FL , GA , IL , IN , KS , KY , LA , MD , MA , MS , MO , NJ , NY , NC , OH , OK , PA , SC , TN , TX , VA , WV , DC
Native Distribution: MA to s. IL & s.e. KS, s. to FL & e. TX
Native Habitat: Sandy, pine openings; prairies; dry, exposed ledges
USDA Native Status: L48(N), PR(N) Growing Conditions
Water Use: High
Light Requirement: Sun
Soil Moisture: Moist
CaCO3 Tolerance: Low
Soil Description: Sandy soils. Sandy, Sandy Loam
Conditions Comments: In the fall, gulf muhly creates a stunning pink to lavender floral display. It functions well in meadow gardens and as a general garden plant.
Benefit
Conspicuous Flowers: yes
Interesting Foliage: yes
Deer Resistant: High
Last Update: 2009-01-30
