Molinia caerulea (L.) Moench subsp. arundinacea (Schrank) Paul ex Grabherr PoaceaePurple moor grass.Significance of the Report. First report of this non-native species for the state of Michigan.Previous Knowledge. Molinia caerulea is a cespitose perennial grass native to Europe, North Africa, Caucasus and Siberia (Taylor et al. 2001). It is a common and sometimes dominant species across much of its native range (Taylor et al. 2001; Dancak et al. 2012). The species has increased in abundance on peat-lands in Europe (Chambers et al. 1999) and is sometimes subjected to control actions there (Marrs et al. 2004). Molinia caerulea grows well above 20 of full sunlight and is a significant competitorwith tree seedlings in European forests (Gaudio et al. 2011). It is tolerant of a wide range of pH levels, with peaks of abundance on both highly acidic soils (pH 7.0 (Grime et al. 1988). It is scarce orabsent from dry calcareous soils, though, apparently because it is unable to obtain adequate phosphorus in the presence of high levels of calcium carbonate (James 1962). Taylor et al. (2001) concluded that the species forms a persistent seed bank, but Pons (1989) gave a contrary view. A dense tussock is the usual architecture, but Jefferies (1915) found a large area in which M. caerulea grew as a diffuse sward.In the fall, the leaves of M. caerulea form an abscission layer at the junction of the sheath and blade, which causes the blades to drop off after they die (Salim et al. 1988). Long considered rare among grasses and other herbaceous plants (citations inSalim et al. 1988), structural features fostering leaf abscission may be an overlooked prerequisite for tussock formation in grasses (Roser and Heklau 2011). Molinia caerulea produces large amounts of litter each year, which may increase the intensity and frequency of fire (Brys et al. 2005). Brys et al. (2005) found that fire increased aboveground biomass, seed set, and seed germination of M. caerulea in a Belgian heathland.
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