bunch grass

Any of various grasses in many different genera that grow in clumplike fashion rather than forming a sod or mat.

A grass that forms compact clumps and does not spread by stolons or rhizomes. Desirable ornamental grasses are often bunchgrasses. Also called clumping grass.

The noun has one meaning:

Meaning #1: any of various grasses of many genera that grow in tufts or clumps rather than forming a sod or mat; chiefly of western United States
  Synonym: bunchgrass

It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Tussock (grass). (Discuss)

Tussock grass in Falklands Islands.

Bunch grasses, also commonly called Tussock grasses,^[1][2] are grasses that grow in clumps or tufts, rather than forming a sod or mat. As perennial plants, they live more than one season. Many species have long roots that may reach two metres or more into the soil, bunch grasses with deep roots, can find water where other plants wither during periods of drought.

Bunch grasses occur in almost any habitat where grasses are found including deserts, wetlands, savannas, forests and tundra.

References

1. ^ R.H. Groves, R.D.B. Whalley “Grass and Grassland Ecology in Australia” in Flora of Australia Volume 43 Poaceae 1: Introduction and Atlas, CSIRO Publishing, Canberra. “’Tussock” implies a vertical orientation of the grass clump, and is synonymous with “bunch” grass in American usage.”
2. ^ Walker, T.W. 1955 “The Ecology of Tussock Grasslands: Discussion” Proc. NZ Ecol. Soc 3:7 “One fifth of New Zealand carries tussock or bunch grass vegetation related to the so called steppes of the world “

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