# spike trisetum (*Koeleria spicata*)

Spike trisetum is a grassy plant that grows tall and has beautiful spike-like flowers. It loves sunny places and can be found in fields and meadows, making it a lovely sight in nature.

- **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low
- **Snaps:** 1
- **Habitat:** Grasslands

![spike trisetum](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/2016.07.27_10.51.48_IMG_7573_-_Flickr_-_andrey_zharkikh.jpg&width=800)

Photo: Andrey Zharkikh from Salt Lake City, USA, CC BY 2.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:2016.07.27_10.51.48_IMG_7573_-_Flickr_-_andrey_zharkikh.jpg)

## Appearance

The spike trisetum is a slender, tufted grass with narrow, often gray-green leaves. Its most distinctive feature is its compact, cylindrical flower head, which appears as a bristly green or purplish spike at the top of a tall stem.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Plantae
- **Phylum:** Tracheophyta
- **Class:** Liliopsida
- **Order:** Poales
- **Family:** Poaceae
- **Genus:** Koeleria

## Interesting facts

- Its scientific name, Koeleria, honors a German botanist who studied plants!
- This tough grass can grow in super rocky places where other plants can't even sprout!
- Tiny seeds from this plant provide important winter food for small birds and hungry critters!
- You might also hear it called 'Junegrass' because its unique flowers often appear in June!

## Special abilities

- **Drought Dynamo:** Spike trisetum can survive very dry conditions, thanks to its tough roots that find water deep in the soil, helping it thrive.
- **Soil Hugger:** This grass grows in dense clumps that help hold soil in place, preventing erosion on slopes and disturbed areas.
- **Wind Whisperer:** Spike trisetum has feathery stigmas and light pollen, allowing the wind to easily carry pollen between plants for reproduction.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 15-75 cm
- **Spread:** 10-20 cm
- **Flower Size:** 0.5-1.5 cm
- **Bloom Season:** Late spring to early summer
- **Edible:** No
- **Toxicity:** None
- **Lifecycle:** Perennial
- **Pollination Method:** Wind

## Ecological connections

- **Eaten by:** [White-tailed Deer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-tailed-deer) (*Odocoileus virginianus*) — grazes on its leaves and stems.
- **Eaten by:** [American Bison](https://www.snappit.app/explore/american-bison) (*Bison bison*) — important forage for bison in prairie habitats.
- **Eaten by:** [Deer Mouse](https://www.snappit.app/explore/deer-mouse) (*Peromyscus maniculatus*) — eats its nutritious seeds.

## Traits

- [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle.
- [Grass-Like](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grass-like): Grass-like plants are herbaceous plants that visually resemble true grasses, typically having long, narrow leaves.
- [Summer Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/summer-blooming): Summer blooming plants produce their flowers during the summer season, often providing vibrant color when many other plants have finished.
- [Drought Tolerant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/drought-tolerant): Drought-tolerant plants can survive and flourish in conditions with limited water availability.
- [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals.
- [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms.
- [Pollinator](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator): Describes organisms that transfer pollen, enabling the fertilization and reproduction of plants.

## Collections

- [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants)

## Safety

**Danger:** 1/5 · Very low

Always be gentle when exploring plants and avoid touching unknown ones.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify spike trisetum?

Compare seed heads, stem shape, how leaves attach, and the joint where leaf meets stem. A patch of mown lawn rarely shows enough for an exact ID. Grass Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### How tall is spike trisetum?

15-75 cm

### How wide does spike trisetum spread?

10-20 cm

### How big are the flowers on spike trisetum?

0.5-1.5 cm

### When does spike trisetum bloom?

Late spring to early summer

### Is spike trisetum edible?

No

### Is spike trisetum toxic?

None

### What is spike trisetum's lifecycle?

Perennial

## Where to spot

- [White River Entrance](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/white-river-entrance) — Washington, US · Historic District

## More Plants

- [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*)
- [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*)
- [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*)
- [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*)

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Source: [Spike Trisetum: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/spike-trisetum)