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Purple Moor-grass

Molinia caerulea

Molinia caerulea Molinia caerulea
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Please keep in mind that it is illegal to uproot a plant without the landowner's consent and care should be taken at all times not to damage wild plants. Wild plants should never be picked for pleasure and some plants are protected by law.
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Contents

Plant Profile

Flowering Months:
JAN  FEB  MAR  APR  MAY  JUN  JUL  AUG  SEP  OCT  NOV  DEC
Order:
Poales
Family:
Poaceae (Grass)
Also in this family:
Alpine Catstail, Alpine Foxtail, Alpine Meadow-grass, Annual Beard-grass, Annual Meadow-grass, Arrow Bamboo, Barren Brome Grass, Bearded Couch Grass, Bearded Fescue, Bermuda Grass, Black Bent, Black Grass, Blue Fescue, Blue Moor-grass, Bog Hair-grass, Borrer's Saltmarsh Grass, Bread Wheat, Bristle Bent, Brown Bent, Brown Sedge, Bulbous Foxtail, Bulbous Meadow-grass, California Brome Grass, Canary Grass, Carnation Sedge, Cocksfoot, Cockspur, Common Bent, Common Cord-grass, Common Millet, Common Reed, Common Saltmarsh Grass, Compact Brome Grass, Corn, Couch Grass, Creeping Bent, Creeping Soft-grass, Crested Dog's-tail, Crested Hair-grass, Cultivated Oat, Curved Hard Grass, Cut Grass, Dense Silky Bent, Downy Oat-grass, Drooping Brome Grass, Drooping Tor Grass, Dune Fescue, Early Hair-grass, Early Meadow-grass, Early Sand-grass, False Brome Grass, False Oat-grass, Fern Grass, Fine-leaved Sheep's Fescue, Flattened Meadow-grass, Floating Sweet-grass, Foxtail Barley, French Oat, Giant Fescue, Glaucous Meadow-grass, Great Brome Grass, Greater Quaking Grass, Grey Hair-grass, Hairy Brome Grass, Hairy Finger-grass, Hard Fescue, Hard Grass, Harestail Grass, Heath Grass, Holy Grass, Hybrid Marram Grass, Italian Rye Grass, Knotroot Bristlegrass, Lesser Hairy Brome Grass, Lesser Quaking Grass, Loose Silky Bent, Lyme Grass, Marram Grass, Marsh Foxtail, Mat Grass, Mat-grass Fescue, Meadow Barley, Meadow Fescue, Meadow Foxtail, Meadow Oat-grass, Mountain Melick, Narrow-leaved Meadow-grass, Narrow-leaved Small-reed, Neglected Couch Grass, Nit Grass, Orange Foxtail, Pampas Grass, Perennial Rye Grass, Plicate Sweet-grass, Purple Small-reed, Purple-stem Catstail, Quaking Grass, Ratstail Fescue, Red Fescue, Reed Canary Grass, Reed Sweet-grass, Reflexed Saltmarsh Grass, Rescue Grass, Rough Meadow-grass, Rush-leaved Fescue, Sand Catstail, Sand Couch Grass, Scandinavian Small-reed, Scottish Small-reed, Sea Barley, Sea Couch Grass, Sea Fern Grass, Sheep's Fescue, Silver Hair-grass, Six-rowed Barley, Slender Brome Grass, Small Cord-grass, Small Sweet-grass, Smaller Catstail, Smooth Brome Grass, Smooth Cord-grass, Smooth Finger-grass, Smooth Meadow-grass, Soft Brome Grass, Somerset Hair-grass, Sorghum, Spreading Meadow-grass, Squirreltail Fescue, Stiff Brome Grass, Stiff Saltmarsh Grass, Sweet Vernal Grass, Tall Fescue, Timothy Grass, Tor Grass, Tufted Hair-grass, Two-rowed Barley, Upright Brome Grass, Velvet Bent, Viviparous Fescue, Wall Barley, Wavy Hair-grass, Wavy Meadow-grass, Whorl Grass, Wild Oat, Wood Barley, Wood Fescue, Wood Meadow-grass, Wood Melick, Wood Millet, Yellow Oat-grass, Yorkshire Fog
Type:
Flower
Life Cycle:
Perennial
Maximum Size:
150 centimetres tall
Habitats:
Bogs, fens, gardens, grassland, heathland, meadows, moorland, mountains, riversides, waterside, wetland.

Flower:
֍
Purple, no petals
 
Narrow clusters of 1 to 4 spikelets. Flowers are usually purple, but sometimes yellow or green. Anthers are brownish-purple.
Fruit:
Insignificant.
Leaves:
A tussock-forming perennial grass. Greyish leaves. Purple Moor-grass is similar to Blue Moor-grass and despite the names, they both have purple flowers. Blue Moor-grass is much shorter and grows on limestone grassland, whereas Purple Moor-grass grows on acid grassland.
Other Names:
Moor Grass.
Frequency (UK):
Abundant  

Similar Species

Heath Grass

Blue Moor-grass
Blue Moor-grass

Other Information

Summary

Molinia caerulea, also known as purple moor grass or moor grass, is a perennial grass species in the family Poaceae. It is native to Europe, Asia, and North America and it is known for its tall, slender spikes of purple-brown flowers that appear in late summer and early fall. It typically grows in wet, acidic soils such as bogs, fens, and wet meadows. It is a popular ornamental grass and is often used in garden and landscaping design. It can be planted in mass or as a specimen and also it can be used in naturalistic gardens, prairie gardens, and in creating meadow effect.

Blog

Purple Moor-grass, Molinia caerulea, is a species of grass commonly found in wetlands and meadows throughout Europe, Asia, and North America. It is known for its distinctive purple color and its importance as a food source for a variety of wildlife.

Description

Purple Moor-grass is a perennial grass that can grow up to 1.5 meters tall. It has a dense, clumped growth habit with a deep root system that helps it survive in wet and nutrient-poor soils. The leaves are long and narrow, measuring up to 60 centimeters in length and 5 millimeters in width. The flowers are arranged in a dense, upright spike that can be up to 30 centimeters long. They are purple in color and appear in late summer.

Habitat and Distribution

Purple Moor-grass is typically found in wetlands, meadows, and other areas with moist soils. It is commonly found in Europe, Asia, and North America, where it is an important part of many natural ecosystems. In North America, it is often found in wetland areas and can be an indicator of high-quality wetland habitat.

Ecological Importance

Purple Moor-grass is an important food source for a variety of wildlife, including birds, insects, and mammals. It provides habitat for many species, including the rare and endangered Great Snipe, which relies on wet meadows dominated by Purple Moor-grass for its breeding habitat. Additionally, the deep root system of Purple Moor-grass helps stabilize wetland soils, reducing erosion and improving water quality.

Cultural Significance

Purple Moor-grass has been used by humans for centuries for a variety of purposes. In some areas of Europe, it has been used to make rope and woven baskets. It has also been used as thatch for roofs and as a bedding material for livestock. In addition, the grass has been used for medicinal purposes, with some cultures using it to treat digestive issues and skin conditions.

Conservation Status

Although Purple Moor-grass is a widespread and common species, it is vulnerable to habitat loss and degradation. Wetlands and meadows are threatened by development, agricultural practices, and other human activities, which can lead to the loss of important habitat for Purple Moor-grass and the wildlife that depend on it. Additionally, invasive species can outcompete Purple Moor-grass, further threatening its survival.

Purple Moor-grass is a fascinating and important species that plays a vital role in many natural ecosystems. Its distinctive purple color and deep root system make it well adapted to wetland and meadow habitats, where it provides important habitat and food for a variety of wildlife. However, the species is vulnerable to habitat loss and degradation, underscoring the need for continued conservation efforts to protect wetland and meadow habitats around the world.

More Information

Purple Moor-grass, Molinia caerulea, is a versatile and resilient species that has adapted to a wide range of environmental conditions. It is known for its ability to survive in wet and nutrient-poor soils, making it an important species in wetland ecosystems. The deep root system of Purple Moor-grass is capable of drawing nutrients and water from deep within the soil, allowing the plant to thrive in areas that other plants might not.

One of the unique features of Purple Moor-grass is its ability to change color throughout the growing season. In the early stages of growth, the plant has green leaves, but as the summer progresses and the plant matures, the leaves turn a distinctive purple color. This change in color is due to the production of anthocyanin, a pigment that protects the plant from damage caused by UV radiation and herbivores.

Purple Moor-grass is an important component of many natural ecosystems, providing habitat and food for a variety of wildlife. In wetland areas, the grass helps to stabilize the soil and prevent erosion, while also improving water quality. Wetlands are also important carbon sinks, and the deep root system of Purple Moor-grass helps to sequester carbon from the atmosphere, making it an important player in the fight against climate change.

In addition to its ecological importance, Purple Moor-grass has been used by humans for centuries for a variety of purposes. In some areas of Europe, it has been used to make thatch for roofs and as a bedding material for livestock. The plant has also been used for medicinal purposes, with some cultures using it to treat digestive issues and skin conditions.

Despite its importance, Purple Moor-grass is facing threats from habitat loss and degradation, invasive species, and climate change. Conservation efforts are needed to protect wetland and meadow habitats around the world and ensure the continued survival of this important species.

Purple Moor-grass is also important for its role in soil formation and nutrient cycling. The plant's deep root system helps to improve soil structure and organic matter content, while also cycling nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus. This makes Purple Moor-grass an important species in the restoration of degraded wetlands and meadows, where it can help to rebuild soil fertility and ecosystem health.

In addition to its ecological and cultural importance, Purple Moor-grass is also a popular ornamental plant. Its striking purple color and tall, upright growth habit make it a popular choice for gardeners and landscapers. However, it is important to be aware of the potential ecological impacts of using non-native plant species in landscaping, as these plants can sometimes escape cultivation and become invasive in natural areas.

Purple Moor-grass is an important and fascinating species with a range of ecological, cultural, and ornamental uses. Its deep root system, distinctive purple color, and ability to thrive in wet and nutrient-poor soils make it a valuable component of many natural ecosystems. However, ongoing conservation efforts are needed to ensure the continued survival of this important species in the face of threats from habitat loss, invasive species, and climate change.

Purple Moor-grass is a highly adaptable plant that can grow in a variety of soil types, including sandy, loamy, and clay soils. It is also tolerant of acidic and alkaline soils, and can grow in areas with low nutrient availability. This makes it a useful plant for ecological restoration projects, where it can help to improve soil quality and promote the growth of other native plant species.

One of the key ecological functions of Purple Moor-grass is its ability to provide habitat and food for a wide range of wildlife. The grass provides cover and nesting habitat for birds, and its seeds are an important food source for small mammals such as voles and mice. In addition, the plant's leaves and stems are grazed by a variety of herbivores, including deer, rabbits, and livestock.

Purple Moor-grass is also important for its ability to help mitigate the impacts of climate change. Wetlands, where Purple Moor-grass is often found, are important carbon sinks that store large amounts of carbon in their soils. By sequestering carbon from the atmosphere, these ecosystems help to reduce the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere and mitigate the impacts of climate change.

In conclusion, Purple Moor-grass is a highly adaptable and important species with a range of ecological, cultural, and ornamental uses. Its ability to grow in wet and nutrient-poor soils, provide habitat and food for wildlife, improve soil quality, and help mitigate the impacts of climate change make it an important component of many natural ecosystems. However, ongoing conservation efforts are needed to protect this species from threats such as habitat loss, invasive species, and climate change, and ensure its continued survival for future generations.

Distribution Map

Reproduced by kind permission of the BSBI.

Click to open an Interactive Map