The History of Knotgrass
Knotgrass (Paspalum distichum) is a perennial grass that is frequently found growing on levees, the edges of rice basins and in drainage ditches. Knotgrass is also referred to as wire grass. The grass spreads with underground stolons and rhizomes. Does this Spark an idea?
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Historical References
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Knotgrass has historically been used as a remedy for nosebleeds, as cited by David Colbert in "The Magical Worlds of Harry Potter." The use of knotgrass also stunts growth, a quality referred to by Shakespeare in "A Midsummer Night's Dream." Shakespeare's contemporary playwrights John Fletcher and Francis Beaumont have also mentioned knotgrass in their plays. More recently, knotgrass is cited as an ingredient in potions made by the fictional Harry Potter.
Description
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Knotgrass is a mat forming with about 2-foot-long stems with erect to prostrate growth. The hairless, flat foliage is keeled at the base. The grass produces "V"-shaped flower heads from June to October.
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Habitat
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The grass is a native of South America and thrives in moist subtropical and tropical areas around the world. Knotgrass is most extensively found in Latin America and Asia. The grass also grows as an aquatic weed, and the underground rhizomes are hardy of freezing temperatures.
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