Describe two kinds of plants that are common or unique in the temperate grasslands. What do they do? What is their role in the temperate grasslands? How have they adapted to survive in the temperate grasslands?

Purple needle grasses are medium to large sized (up to 2 feet tall) grasses that are made up of tiny bracts and the stamens and pistil. Purple needle grass is a perennial plant, so it lives for more than two years. They're wind pollinated, so they don't need insects to pollinate them.

Purple needle grass is eaten by rabbits, and other small animals. Without them in the temperate grasslands, the food chain of that area could be disturbed or even completely eradicated.

One adaptation that purple needle grass has to help it survive in the temperate grasslands is it's roots; purple needle grass's roots are up to 16 feet long. The extra length in roots are helpful to gather extra water. Since the temperate grasslands receive low precipitation, the 16 feet is extremely helpful.
Another adaptation that purple needle has to help it survive in the temperate grasslands are in it's roots; the roots hold moisture. Not only does this help the plant survive through times without rain, but it allows the plant to be extremely difficult to burn.

Why do you think it would be helpful to the plant that it's harder to burn than regular plants?

Written by Bomi

Information from:
http://www.sacsplash.org/plants/naspul.htm
http://www.moremesa.org/mesa_np_needle.htm

Pictures from: (in chronological order)
http://www.moremesa.org/garden/needletop.jpg
http://www.sacsplash.org/pimages/naspul.jpg