Timothy (Dvarčionių pievos flora)

Timothy

Phleum pratense

Summary ⁸

Timothy-grass (Phleum pratense), is an abundant perennial grass native to most of Europe except for the Mediterranean region. It is also known simply as timothy, or as meadow cat's-tail or common cat's tail. It is one of the Phleum genus, consisting of about 15 species of annual and perennial grasses.

Range and habitat in illinois ⁹

Timothy is a common grass that occurs in every county of Illinois (see Distribution Map). It was introduced from Europe, either accidentally or deliberately, into the United States during the early 18th century. It was used as a source of hay for horses and other farm animals; this practice continues to the present day. Habitats include fields, pastures, disturbed meadows, fence rows in open areas, vacant lots, powerline clearances, roadsides, grassy embankments, upper slopes of drainage canals, and waste areas. Timothy is found in disturbed areas more often than natural habitats. Faunal Associations

Description ¹⁰

More info for the term: cool-season

Timothy is an introduced, cool-season, perennial bunchgrass that grows
from 20 to 40 inches (51-102 cm) tall [114,129]. Culms emerge from a
swollen or bulblike base and form large clumps. The flowering heads of
timothy are cylindrical and spikelike, and about 6 inches (15 cm) long.
The one-flowered spikelet produces seeds that are small and enclosed in
awned, urn-shaped husks [23,90,139]. Leaves of timothy are flat and 3
to 13 inches (7.6-33 cm) long [119]. Timothy is generally short-lived
(4 to 5 years) but can live up to 6 or 7 years [124]. Timothy has a
moderately shallow and fibrous root system; roots can extend to 48
inches (120 cm) in depth [129,139]. Timothy is nonrhizomatous [114,119].
Timothy plants contain corms at their base which are annual, forming in
early summer and dying the next year when the seed matures [47].

Timothy forms vesicular-arbuscular endomycorrhizal associations [143].

Range and habitat in illinois ¹¹

Fire management considerations ¹²

More info for the terms: codominant, cover

Timothy is often used to stabilize soil against erosion and to provide
cover for wildlife in clearcut areas that have been burned [3]. In the
midwestern states, prairie fires are often prescribed and timothy seeded
to provide nesting cover for prairie chickens and waterfowl [3].

In Montana, timothy was aerially seeded on a lodgepole pine clearcut
that had been burned. It was monitored for 12 years, from 1962 to 1973.
Timothy was a strong competitor in the early years postburn, but
eventual dominance by native grasses was suggested by the decline of
timothy from 3.0 percent in 1964 to 0.7 percent in 1973 [71].

Percent vegetal cover for timothy for 12 transects, 1962-1973

1     2     3     4     5     6     7     8     9    10    11    12
0.6   2.1   3.0   2.5   1.7   1.9   ---   1.8   ---   1.3   ---   0.7

In Oregon on a clearcut burned in 1969, timothy was seeded with a
mixture of other grasses and legumes at a rate of 6 pounds per acre (6.8
kg/ha). In 1973, timothy was abundant. By 1984, timothy declined
drastically in numbers, partially because of heavy grazing pressure
[86].

In Deadwood, South Dakota in 1959, an intense forest fire burned 4,500
acres (1,800 ha) of land. Artificial seeding on 4,011 acres (1,604 ha)
at 11 pounds per acre (12.4 kg/ha) of a mixture containing timothy was
completed. The mixture consisted of 3 pounds per acre (3.4 kg/ha) of
timothy, 3 pounds per acre (3.4 kg/ha) of smooth brome, 2 pounds per
acre (2.25 kg/ha) of Kentucky bluegrass, 2 pounds per acre (2.25 kg/ha)
of yellow sweet clover, and 1 pound per acre (1.125 kg/ha) of hairy
vetch. Two sites were seeded. Site one was on stony-loam soil at 5,400
feet (1,620 m) and site two was on a finer textured soil at 4,900 feet
(1,470 m). Timothy established quickly and persisted in dominance on
site one. At site two, timothy was codominant with other species [93].

In northern Alberta, timothy was used to reseed burned-over land after a
fire in 1950. The organic matter was destroyed and the depth of ash was
1 to 3 inches (2.5-7.6 cm). Seedings were done in the fall on 3 to 6
inches (7.6-15 cm) of snow and in April at the same depth with no snow
or frost. Productivity was not influenced by the time of seeding.
Timothy seeds established where moisture was adequate. Stands of
timothy declined with age [3].

National nature serve conservation status ¹³

Canada

Rounded National Status Rank: NNA - Not Applicable

United States

Rounded National Status Rank: NNA - Not Applicable

Pests and potential problems ¹⁴

Stem rust is a disease that can cause loss of vigor and forage quality to timothy. Rust-resistant varieties have been developed to control this disease.

Common names ¹⁵

timothy
common timothy
herd's grass

Comments ¹⁶

This charming grass has escaped from agricultural fields and can be found everywhere. The most distinctive feature of this grass is its narrowly cylindrical seedheads; the mature foliage is somewhat coarse. Unfortunately, Timothy is a major cause of allergies in some areas because it releases large amounts of pollen during the first half of summer. For this reason, some people may be less than charmed to find its presence in their neighborhood. While there are other grasses in Illinois that have cylindrical seedheads (e.g., Setaria spp. and Alopecurus spp.), their spikelets are usually more bristly and shiny from the presence of long hairs. The short hairs that are observable on the inflorescence of Timothy are actually paired awns of the spikelets. These awns are flexible rather than stiff while the spikelets are still green. This grass was named after the farmer Timothy Hansen, who advocated its use for agricultural purposes during the early 18th century, hence the common name 'Timothy.'

Sources and Credits

(c) Matt Lavin, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), http://www.flickr.com/photos/35478170@N08/3733549201
(c) "<a href=""http://www.pwrc.usgs.gov/WLI/"">USDA NRCS Wetland Science Institute</a>.", some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), http://plants.usda.gov/java/largeImage?imageID=phpr3_002_avp.tif
(c) Jon Sullivan, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), http://farm9.static.flickr.com/8462/8024983989_87cda84a36_o.jpg
(c) Jon Sullivan, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), http://farm9.static.flickr.com/8031/8024981534_cdfc882a21_o.jpg
(c) anonymous, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), http://www.biopix.com/PhotosMedium/JCS%20Phleum%20pratense%2044323.jpg
(c) anonymous, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), http://www.biopix.com/PhotosMedium/JCS%20Phleum%20pratense%2018713.jpg
(c) anonymous, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), http://www.biopix.com/PhotosMedium/JCS%20Phleum%20pratense%20ssp%20serotinum%2031695.jpg
(c) Wikipedia, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phleum_pratense
(c) John Hilty, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), http://eol.org/data_objects/29449222
Public Domain, http://eol.org/data_objects/24632916
(c) John Hilty, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), http://eol.org/data_objects/29449223
Public Domain, http://eol.org/data_objects/24632927
(c) NatureServe, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), http://eol.org/data_objects/28979476
Public Domain, http://eol.org/data_objects/1390042
Public Domain, http://eol.org/data_objects/23368620
(c) John Hilty, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), http://eol.org/data_objects/29449224

More Info

Range Map

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Timothy

Summary 8

Range and habitat in illinois 9

Description 10

Range and habitat in illinois 11

Fire management considerations 12

National nature serve conservation status 13