Feather grass. Orenburg region
The
blooming of feather grass is an event of unique beauty in the Orenburg region,
one that leaves a lasting impression. Feather grass is a genus of perennial
monocotyledonous herbaceous plants from the family Poaceae, or true grasses. It
is one of the most common plants in the steppes.
In Latin
and Greek, feather grass is known as Stipa, a name closely related to the
Russian word for "steppe." Feather grass thrives in dry soil, growing
in steppe meadows, open hills, rocks, and stony outcrops. There are about 80
species of feather grass in Russia, and around 300 species worldwide.
Among
herbaceous plants, it is considered a long-liver, with a lifespan of up to 50
years. There is a theory that the Russian name for the grass (kovyl) comes from
the verb "kovyljat," meaning to hobble, as the grass sways gently and
leans towards the ground. Another theory links the plant's name to the Gothic
word hawi and the Old German hewi, both of which mean "hay."
The
population of feather grass suffers due to the plowing of fields. Some of its
species are considered endangered and are protected by law. In the Orenburgsky
Nature Reserve, there are 14 species of feather grass, 5 of which are listed in
the Red Book.
Along with the RUSSIA EXPO, the flower festival is also coming to an end.
The "Future in Flowers" festival continues at the RUSSIA EXPO, where unique flowerbeds from all regions of our country can be seen at the "Space" pavilion until July 8.
The RUSSIA EXPO concludes on July 8, and with it, the flower festival will also come to an end.