Cereal plant timothy grass

Among the most common cereal crops growing on the territory Russia, everything is known from childhood as bushy grass, called "arzhanets", "seedling", "sivukha" or "stick" among the people. It is nothing but the grass of the family of meadowlike - timothy grass.

Description of the plant

The stem of timothy grows in height from 25 centimeters to one and a half meters. It is cylindrical, hollow, erect, with rough to the touch, elongated, sharpened at the ends by leaf blades of green or gray-green color. The root system is creeping, with short rhizomes. Timothy grass, photographs of which are presented in the article, has an inflorescence in the form of a complex ear (sultan), which is very similar to the inflorescence of a foxtail, but more severe. There are no setae on it, and the anthers, in contrast to the yellow anthers of the foxtail, are of violet color. Pollinated timothy grassy cross, using the wind for this. At the base of the shoot, the plant has one more distinctive feature - a thickening in the form of a bulb. Blossom timothy grass in the beginning of summer. Seeds, crumbling, quickly sprout again, forming under the feet of a magnificent carpet that is resistant to trampling and retains its green color throughout the summer period and even after the onset of winter cold.

origin of name

Timothy grassland has spread throughout the non-chernozem territory of Russia. About its use as a cultural plant sown in the burnt areas, says the documents of the Vologda province, dated the end of the XVII-early XVIII century. Peasants noted the unique characteristics of this cereal plant, which does not require special care; Easy harvesting of seeds, stored for a long time in the inflorescence; A love for timothy of cattle, who eagerly eats not only fresh grass, but also harvested hay for the winter. It is thanks to its agricultural characteristics that the grass has spread to other territories, and was also taken to another continent. According to one version, the enterprising American farmer Timothy Hanson took the seeds of this plant to America, where it also became widespread as a forage crop. Propagandizing its spread, he achieved commercial success and officially began to import seeds to Europe. Thus, it returned to the territory of its original growth, but under a new name - the grass of Timothy, or timothy grass, perpetuating the name of the American.

Planting and care

Timothy grass is a haymaking plant. It is durable, can grow on one place up to 10 years. Seeds germinate already at a temperature of 1-2 degrees of heat, and at +5 the first sprouted seedlings appear. Timofeevka does not tolerate drought - it is a moisture-loving plant that can survive even flooding. Given that this grass is poorly resistant to shading, it is better to plant it to plants, the period of active growth is shorter. So, Timothy feathers perfectly coexist with leguminous plants and clover.