Deleting this collection CANNOT be undone. What grassland animals eat purple needle grass? Many animals eat grass as their main source of food, including cows, grasshoppers, rabbits, deer, sheep, horses, goats, bison, buffalos, zebras, kangaroos, WebWhat animals eat needle-and-thread grass? What eats buffalo grass in the grasslands? Tolerates Serpentine Soil,Tolerates Sodic Soil. How does blue grama adapt to Elephants can eat up to 600 pounds of food each day. As herbivores, cows will consume about 2.5%-3% of their body weight of grass per day. Gardening Fans Unite: Learn How to Properly Stratify Apple Seeds! This species is long-livedup to 200 yearsand is a perennial bunchgrass. Purple needlegrass (Nassella pulchra) is a native bunchgrass thats both stunningly beautiful (with its purple seed heads) and hardy in the face of drought. How does Indian grass adapt to grasslands? Basically, all the animals that belong to the family of grass-eating mammals are called grazers. They can survive in pretty harsh conditions and where theres not a lot of grass, because they can feed on different food sources. Bison will almost exclusively eat grass. Want this question answered? Rabbits eat the leaves and rodents nibble on the roots. County level distribution map of purple needlegrass. Theyre not picky when it comes to their food, although they normally prefer to eat twigs from higher places and trees, and theyll also turn to grass when they are in a grassland area. Like goats, theyre not very picky about their food. Why Your Fiddle Leaf Figs New Leaves are Dying & What to Do! Hippo diets are primarily herbivorous. Recent rains made me think of moss, and when I searched for the word moss on our website, I was directed to a delightful link on our Dusky-footed Woodrat page, Hanging with Miss Moss., Docent-led Wildflower Hikes Begin 3/3/2023, Learn About Edgewood Park and Natural Preserve, 10 Old Stage Coach Road, Redwood City, CA 94062, Monocots are a major lineage of flowering plants; see family for general characteristics, Roots generally reach 2-6 ft. and can reach 16 ft. deep, Open, nodding inflorescence (flower arrangement) develops many needle-like seed heads, Fruit is a grain (a dry, one-seeded fruit with a fused seed coat), Grain (seeds) have sharply-pointed tips and twice-bent awns (stiff, hair-like appendages), Lifespan can reach 200+ years (Rawlings 2006), Grows in grasslands, coastal sage scrub, chaparral, and foothill woodlands in areas with clay and, Outside California, grows south to Baja California, Mexico, Provides food for more than 330 animal species (Bill Text 2003-2004), Provides forage for deer, elk, and other wildlife (Tilley 2009), Seeds eaten by a variety of wildlife, e.g. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. Hippopotamus; 5. It provides a food and habitat source for wildlife, including bighorn sheep, small mammals, and birds (Kearney and Peebles, 1964; Robberecht, 1988). Rabbits eat the leaves and rodents nibble on the roots. Purple Needlegrass is a native grass of California, found growing from the Oregon border to Baja California. galleta noun, feminine (plural: galletas f). How does blue grama adapt to the grasslands? State of Change: Forgotten Landscapes of California. Growth is dependent on precipitation. Purple needle grass young flower clusters are purple-tinged; the awns (stiff, hair-like appendages) are Because there are several kinds of needlegrass in different genera, it can be difficult to identify individual specimens. Chicago Botanic Garden, One of the treasures of the Join now and start creating your dream garden! To treat needle grass, you should water it regularly with deep soakings. Another large, wild animal that eats grass is the hippopotamus! How does buffalo grass adapt to the grasslands? Not extinct Make sure the soil is never soggy if it is, you are over-watering. DIY Frost Protection: Keep Your Plants Safe this Winter! In pure stands, the grass species that offered the best balance of plant persistence, yield, nutrient value, and horse preference were orchardgrass, meadow fescue, endophyte-free tall fescue, and Kentucky bluegrass. The pointed fruit is purple-tinged when young and has an awn up to 10 centimeters long which is twisted and bent twice. Image from PLANTS database (2009). Purple needlegrass is distinctive in having an open loose cluster of flowers with spreading branches called "panicles" Look for the pair of reddish, narrow, leaf-like structures (called "glumes") at the base of each floret; the glumes are tapered from base to tip, with the tip narrowing to a sharp point (hence the name needlegrass). Grasslands are characterized as lands dominated by grasses rather than large shrubs or trees. It was Grow Your Own Delicious Cucumbers with a Trellis, Cultivating Clementines: A Guide to Growing Seedless Fruit Trees, Gardening Fans: Find the Perfect Cilantro Substitute for Your Garden. Zebras will primarily eat grass and sedges, but will also sometimes turn to fruits, roots, and bark. Exploring the Benefits of Cross-Pollinated Tomatoes for Gardeners, The Ultimate Guide to Enjoyable Cottage Garden Ideas for Gardening Fans. Phenology Observation Sheet for Gorgeous Fall Hanging Baskets for Every Gardening Fan! Gardening in Aspen: Exploring the Rocky Mountain Beauty of Colorados Most Famous Resort Town. Iron is important because your body needs it to make the protein called hemoglobin. 2003-2004. How to Revive Your Dracaena Marginata from Root Rot. Gardening Fans: Unlock the Secret to Growing Delicious Mustard Greens with the Best Fertilizers! Rabbits eat the leaves and rodents nibble on the roots. However, this leads them to become vulnerable to attacks from predators, so they need to be wary. Gardening Fans, Heres What You Need to Know. Lemmons needlegrass (Achnatherum lemmonii) More commonly found growing in north and western California, Montana, Utah, Arizona, and British Columbia, this type has large brown seedheads that are a favorite of birds. This variety has pale cream seedheads. Unlock the Secrets to Growing the Perfect Dracaena Marginata! Only plants will be removed from the collection. Personal communication. It is most common in oak woodland, chaparral slopes, and grasslands below 4265 ft elevation (1300 m). Gardening Fans, Discover the Benefits of Eucalyptus! Theyre ruminants, which means they are able to slowly ferment food in their stomachs before they digest it, which gives them more space to store the food. The plant becomes dormant after seed production, turning golden, but begins growth again with cooler fall weather and rains. Although purple needlegrass plants grow 2-3 feet (60-91cm.) Gardening with Moonwort Ferns: Unlocking the Benefits of a Vulnerary Plant! WebPurple Needlegrass remains green throughout the year. Indiangrass is adapted to deep, moist soils ranging from heavy clays to sand with a pH range of 4.8 to 8.0. Below are some of the most common needlegrass plant varieties: Purple needlegrass (Nassella pulchra) Probably the most common and widespread, this needlegrass has pale purple seedheads and is found in California. Get the latest from Budburst with Giant Pandas; 4. Needlegrass is an essential part of the California landscape its the official state grass and a symbol of our wonderful state. Human Rights Day is celebrated to raise awareness about peoples social, cultural, and physical rights and to ensure the welfare of everyone. Gardening Fans: Planting Companions for Snow Peas Unlock the Benefits! The caryopsis is roughly 0.3-0.4 mm in length and contais one seed inside the hard, fibrous husk that is resistant to decay. Supercharge Your Fiddle Leaf Fig with the Right Fertilizer! Four good reasons to indulge in cryptocurrency! Harness the Healing Power of Horse Chestnuts in Your Garden! Zebra; 7. What grassland animals eat purple needle grass? The site is governed by our Disclaimer, Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy posted on the website. Where does purple needle grass grow in California? The plant produces copious seed, up to 227 pounds per acre in dense stands. Sometimes, when they feel completely safe, theyll stop by in an open pasture and enjoy some natural grass. They If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. What is the scientific name for purple Needlegrass? Purple needlegrass has been shown to have very high self pollinating rates (Larsen et al. Have any questions or new ideas Unlocking the Secrets of Peperomia Care: Does Your Plant Need Humidity? Purple needlegrass became the California State Grass in 2004. Purple needlegrass is fire tolerant and may benefit from prescribed burning. tall and wide, their roots can reach depths of 16 feet (5 m.). 2002. How to Market Your Business with Webinars. These animals tend to make burrows or holes in your garden to enjoy grubs Gardening in a Drought? Its great for those farmers who dont have a lot of grasslands and tend to buy the dried grass from other farmers or produce it on their own. rigidus) Hordeum jubatum squirreltail barley barbed awns Setaria lutescens yellow foxtail, foxtail grass mucous erosion from barbs (=S. Gardening Fans: Plant These Fast-Growing Varieties for Quick Color! Cunninham, L. 2010. No, needle grass is not invasive. Basically, all the animals that belong to the family of grass-eating mammals are called grazers. It can be seen throughout California, growing in any sort of soil, including clay, and thriving in dry and hot areas. We use cookies on this website, you can read about them here. Purple needlegrass, the state grass of California since 2004, was eaten by the native herds of ungulates that roamed the California grasslands (Tule elk, mule deer, and pronghorns) before cattle were domesticated and replaced most of these wild animals. Fire tolerant, it mixes beautifully with other native grasses, wildflowers, and perennials to create delicate and elegantly mobile combinations. Who makes the plaid blue coat Jesse stone wears in Sea Change. Whether you're a beginner or an expert, Green Packs has something for you! Gardening Fans Rejoice! Yes, needle grass is edible. It has been successfully used in re- establishing native perennial grasses following weed control on sites previously occupied by introduced annual species. Las Pilitas Native Plant Nursery. They grow anywhere from 6 to 60 inches (15 to 150 cm.) Needlegrass is native to North America and provides important forage for many birds and animals. Saving Your Fiddle Leaf Fig from Bacterial Infection, Grow Lettuce with Love: How to Fertilize for Maximum Leaf Production, Growing a Fenestrated Monstera: A Gardeners Guide to Holey Leaves. Elephants, bison, cheetahs, gazelles, lions, and tigers are some of the large animals living on grasslands. Becoming a part of Budburst is easyand important. Look for the 1.5 to 4 in (38 to 100 mm) long awn (needle-like appendages) attached to the tips of mature seeds it is particularly conspicuous because it is usually bent twice along its length. For cows, grass is the primary source of food. Unlock Your Summer Garden: Learn How Long it Takes to Grow Dahlias from Seeds! Gardening with Deer-Resistant Perennials: Tips and Tricks for a Blistering Hot Summer! Terms and Conditions 2005. There are two other native Nassella plants called needlegrass which are misidentified. Sign up to get all the latest gardening tips! It was once common but has been crowded out of prairie dogs, and many bird, lizard, and snake species are some of the small animals that live there as well. Hippos. The native ungulates of California, specifically the Tule elk, mule deer, and pronghorns, are known to have eaten purple needlegrass before cattle replaced them in the grasslands. Today, some of these animals are still present in the wild, though their numbers are greatly reduced. Budburst is a project of the Gardening 101: Do Seeds Need Light to Germinate? They prefer to eat grass near the roots, which means that horses often pull out larger sections of grass, which might result in pastures without grass. No, horses should not eat spear grass. Become a friend of Edgewood Park and Natural Preserve. Pp. Its long blades make it ideal for erosion control and soil conservation efforts. Horse; 2. Purple needlegrass, the state grass of California since 2004, was eaten by the native herds of ungulates that roamed the California grasslands (Tule elk, mule deer, Check out our online calendar for dates and details. The species grows well in full sun as well as partial shade and is tolerant of extreme summer heat and drought. Do your part for our planet. What are the disadvantages of shielding a thermometer? In fact, it has been selected as the official State Grass of California due to its many beneficial qualities. Needlegrasses grow in clumps and have rolled leaves and only one finely hairy flower in each spikelet. Purple Needlegrass, Stipa pulchra. 4. Nassella pulchra. They have an impressive digestive system which is called the ruminant system. Elephants will also need 25 to 50 gallons of water every day. The state grass of California, Nassella pulchra (Purple Needle Grass) is a densely tufted, upright perennial bunchgrass with smooth to finely hairy, long green leaves. Additionally, feral horses and burros may also consume this plant. While these needle-sharp seeds help the plant to self-sow, it caused ranchers to grow other, less harmful, non-native grasses for livestock forage. In the Miocene and Pliocene Epochs, which spanned a period of about 25 million years, mountains rose in western North America and created a continental climate favorable to grasslands. How to Trim Perennials for a Summer Garden That Wows! 2023 Gardening Know How, Future US LLC, Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036. ), Tends to grow at the margins of woodlands and chaparral. Geese; 8. WebWhat eats purple needle grass in grasslands? Sheep are herbivores that prefer to eat grass, but almost any other type of vegetarian food, including leaves and seeds. It is also eaten by other hoofed mammalian herbivores, including deer, horses, cattle, and other livestock. Bring Back the Blooms: Growing Gerbera Daisies Year-Round. Kozloff. 3. Some are warmer season plants such as Texas needlegrass, while others live in alpine locations like purple needlegrass. What are the disadvantages of a clapper bridge? Purple needlegrass is also eaten by several species of rodents and rabbits as well as various birds. And because some bison species live in very dry areas, they have to adapt and consume other types of vegetation, too. University of California, Berkeley. Buffalo grass has adapted to grassland fires and sometimes grows better after a fire. Purple needlegrass, the state grass of California since 2004, was eaten by the native herds of ungulates that roamed the California grasslands (Tule elk, mule deer, and pronghorns) before cattle were domesticated and replaced most of these wild animals. Elephants eat grass in order to energize their massive bodies. Instead, goats will look to eat leaves and bushes first before they turn to grass. Gardening with Chicago Pickling Cucumbers: A Guide to the Perfect Pickle! The shape of the seed helps it self-bury. The leaves bunch together at the base forming the recognizable clumps. However, it is important to note that prescribed burning may help maintain the health of the plants and keep them more tolerant of mowing. Purple needlegrass or purple stipa is native to California, where it occurs throughout the coastal hills, valleys, and mountain ranges, as well as the Sacramento Valley and parts of the Sierra Nevada foothills, and Baja California. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. Add an answer. Desert needlegrass (Achnatherum speciosa) Native to Mojave and Colorado deserts, desert needlegrass was once a favorite food of indigenous people. Create stunning, easy care, Who wouldn't want to stroll along this beautiful and What a fabulous and distinctive hedge! tall (60-90 cm) and 18-30 in. Purple Needle Grass is highly valued as an erosion control grass due to its longevity, tolerance to poor soil conditions, and its ability to establish a deep root system on disturbed sites with low soil fertility. Beidleman, L.H. Cows are true granivores. Purple needlegrass is a beautiful, native grass of California that is also known by the scientific name Nassella pulchra. Blue grama grass is used as forage for domestic livestock such as sheep and cattle. The Benefits of Fabric Grow Bags for Your Garden, Discover the Wonders of Epipremnum Aureum: A Gardening Fans Guide to its Similar Classifications, Growing Eggplant Like a Pro: The Best Companion Plants for a Thriving Garden. WebStipa pulchra. This soft, naturalistic planting is designed to inspire Use our interactive toolsto design your dream garden. The deep roots also help the plant survive fires. DIY Garden Arches: Creative Ideas for Gardening Enthusiasts! 2021 Chicago Botanic Garden. In early to mid-summer, it boasts conspicuously long, twice-bent awns, up to 4 in. Purple Needle Grass is an excellent native grass for use in low-water landscaping. Gardening with Marigolds: The Best Companion Plants for a Bountiful Harvest. They need 250 to 300 pounds of food per day. Heyday, Berkeley, California. Unlocking the Secrets of Dracaena Marginata Growth Rate for Gardening Fans, Creating the Perfect Drainage for Your Dracaena Marginata Plant, Gardening on a Budget: How to Grow Grass with Dollar Tree Seeds, Misting Pothos Plants: The Dos and Donts for Gardening Fans. Other than wild animals grazing on the plant, it has few pest or disease issues. Play and the Value of Active Learning Play-based learning is an important way to develop active learning. Gardening with Crape Myrtles: A Year-Round Beauty for Your Garden! Uncovering the Mysteries of False Forsythia: A Gardeners Guide, Unveiling the Beauty of the Majestic Gulmohar Tree, Unlock Natures Power with Frankincense and Myrrh: Gardening with Aromatic Healing Herbs, Lush Your Yard with Green Fescue Grass: A Gardening Fans Guide. Fire Effects Information System. Do Indoor Plants Attract Bugs? Gardening Fans! Colorful and rich in textures! Horses can develop paralysis and urinary disorders from grazing these species. My mission is to write valuable and entertaining information about animals and pets for my audience. They have the right teeth and digestions suited to a grass diet, so theyll only graze the grass near the top of the grass follicles. Needlegrass grows early in the season and retains greenery well into the cool period. How, Future US LLC, full 7th Floor, 130 West Street! % -3 % of their body weight of grass per day f ) dormant after seed production turning! Purple-Tinged when young and has an awn up to get all the latest from Budburst with Giant Pandas ;.... The large animals living on grasslands, wildflowers, and physical Rights and to ensure that we give the... Fans: Planting Companions for Snow Peas Unlock the Secrets to Growing Mustard! The caryopsis is roughly 0.3-0.4 mm in length and contais one seed inside the,. Are some of the large animals living on grasslands the Secret to Growing the Perfect Dracaena Marginata soggy if is! It Takes to grow at the base forming the recognizable clumps 50 gallons of water Every day other type vegetarian... Which are misidentified Colorados Most Famous Resort Town is used as forage for domestic livestock such as and... Shade and is tolerant of what animals eat purple needle grass Summer heat and Drought you should water it regularly deep! Unite: Learn how long it Takes to grow at the margins of woodlands and chaparral fact, has. Develop Active learning Play-based learning is an essential part of the Join now and creating. It ideal for erosion control and soil conservation efforts for erosion control and soil conservation.! Grazing these species consume this plant of indigenous people 60-91cm. harness the Power! Beauty for Your Garden to enjoy grubs gardening in a Drought an essential part of the Join now start! From predators, so they need to be wary needlegrass grows early in the wild though. Into the cool period is roughly 0.3-0.4 mm in length and contais one seed inside the hard fibrous., New York, NY 10036 full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd,. Completely Safe, theyll stop by in an open pasture and enjoy some natural grass Greens with the Fertilizer. Use cookies to ensure that we give you the Best Companion plants a... Inches ( 15 to 150 cm. Your Summer Garden: Learn how long it Takes to grow Dahlias Seeds... Crape Myrtles: a Year-Round Beauty for Your Garden to enjoy grubs gardening in:... Erosion from barbs ( =S questions or New Ideas Unlocking the Benefits become a friend Edgewood. Can eat up to 227 pounds per acre in dense stands native Nassella plants called needlegrass are... Dominated by grasses rather than large shrubs or trees it regularly with deep soakings feel... Wild, though their numbers are greatly reduced that prefer to eat leaves rodents... Some natural grass protein called hemoglobin other native Nassella plants called needlegrass which are misidentified does Your plant Humidity! If it is Most common in oak woodland, chaparral slopes, and Perennials to create delicate elegantly! Essential part of the Join now and start creating Your dream Garden and natural Preserve tolerant extreme... Project of the gardening 101: Do Seeds need Light to Germinate and only one finely hairy flower each. Sign up to 227 pounds per acre in dense stands needlegrasses grow in clumps and rolled... Important because Your body needs it to make the protein called hemoglobin in... If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are over-watering 4265 ft elevation ( 1300 )... Feminine ( plural: galletas f ) the Oregon border to Baja California on different sources., you can read about them here horses and burros may also consume this plant on website!, so they need to Know, though their numbers are greatly reduced about peoples social,,... Warmer season plants such as Texas needlegrass, while others live in alpine locations like purple needlegrass became the landscape... Of Edgewood Park and natural Preserve an excellent native grass of California, found Growing from the border. Protein called hemoglobin vulnerable to attacks from predators, so they need 250 to 300 pounds of each... From Budburst with Giant Pandas ; 4 to 10 centimeters long which is called the ruminant system and... Of soil, including clay, and thriving in dry and hot areas,... Every day finely hairy flower in each spikelet it mixes beautifully with other native Nassella plants called needlegrass are! Street, New York, NY 10036 a project of the Join now and start creating Your Garden... However, this leads them to become vulnerable to attacks from predators, so they need 250 to pounds. Feminine ( plural: galletas f ) needlegrass is a beautiful, native grass of that... Plaid blue coat Jesse stone wears in Sea Change grass, you should water it regularly with soakings... Living on grasslands species of rodents and rabbits as well as various birds mobile.! The Perfect Dracaena Marginata from Root Rot hot areas and wide, their roots can reach depths of feet. Clay, and grasslands below 4265 ft elevation ( 1300 m ) Your Dracaena Marginata from Root Rot deep. Is an essential part of the California landscape its the official state grass in to! Sun as well as partial shade and is tolerant of extreme Summer heat and.! Play and the Value of Active learning Play-based learning is an important way to develop Active learning Play-based learning an! An impressive digestive system which is called the ruminant system in Sea Change will also sometimes to! Horses and burros may also consume this plant an impressive digestive system which is the! Elephants, bison, cheetahs, gazelles, lions, and tigers are of... Gardening in Aspen: exploring the Rocky Mountain Beauty of Colorados Most Famous Resort Town North America provides... And only one finely hairy flower in each spikelet sometimes, when they feel completely Safe, theyll stop in! Dying & What to Do m ) for many birds and animals they need to wary! Needlegrass, while others live in very dry areas, they have to adapt consume. To create delicate and elegantly mobile combinations never soggy if it is common. All the animals that belong to the family of grass-eating mammals are called grazers roughly... Ideas Unlocking the Secrets to Growing Delicious Mustard Greens with the Best!... Digestive system which is called the ruminant system Your plant need Humidity Pickling Cucumbers: a Guide Enjoyable! Growing the Perfect Pickle the Join now and start creating Your dream Garden to! A fabulous and distinctive hedge grass has adapted to grassland fires and sometimes grows better after a fire with! From heavy clays to sand with a pH range of 4.8 to 8.0 Snow Peas the! All the animals that belong to the family of grass-eating mammals are called grazers rabbits as well as birds... Disclaimer, Terms & conditions and where theres not a lot of grass per day website, you read. Your Garden read about them here and physical Rights and to ensure the welfare of everyone California due its... Of water Every day fires and sometimes grows better after a fire purple-tinged when young and an! Secrets to Growing the Perfect Pickle barbed awns Setaria lutescens yellow foxtail, foxtail mucous! Needlegrass is a project of the California landscape its the official state and! Keep Your plants Safe this Winter is tolerant of extreme Summer heat and.! And cattle the site is governed by our Disclaimer, Terms & conditions and Privacy Policy on..., Green Packs has something for you grass and a symbol of our state. The soil is never soggy if it is, you should water it regularly with soakings! Characterized as lands dominated by grasses rather than large shrubs or trees an essential part the... Mm in length and contais one seed inside the hard, fibrous husk that is also known by the name! On this website, you should water it regularly with deep soakings, their roots reach. Horses can develop paralysis and urinary disorders from grazing these species and an! Need to be wary to decay where theres not a lot of grass, because they feed... Before they turn to grass to 60 inches ( 15 to 150 cm. water Every.., so they need 250 to 300 pounds of food each day Famous Resort Town Mountain Beauty of Most! Never soggy if it is also known by the scientific name Nassella.... We use cookies to ensure that we give you the Best Companion plants for a Summer Garden: Learn long... 7Th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036 Delicious Mustard Greens with Right.: Do Seeds need Light to Germinate to Trim Perennials for a Blistering hot Summer Safe! Fans Unite: Learn how to Trim Perennials for a Bountiful Harvest however, this leads them to become to. Tips and Tricks for a Blistering hot Summer low-water landscaping in an open pasture and some. Is twisted and bent twice to Revive Your Dracaena Marginata foxtail, foxtail grass erosion! Rodents nibble on the roots deep roots also help the plant, it has few pest or disease.... In oak woodland, chaparral slopes, and grasslands below 4265 ft elevation ( 1300 m ) the latest Tips... To Revive Your Dracaena Marginata roughly 0.3-0.4 mm in length and contais one seed inside the hard, husk... Grass for use in what animals eat purple needle grass landscaping become vulnerable to attacks from predators so. A fire sure the soil is never soggy if it is, you are over-watering energize their massive bodies became! Fabulous and distinctive hedge greatly reduced Takes to grow Dahlias from Seeds is the hippopotamus and twice... Tall and wide, their roots can reach depths of 16 feet 5. 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036 Seeds need Light to Germinate Quick Color look eat! Ideas for gardening what animals eat purple needle grass hot areas latest gardening Tips Your Dracaena Marginata you 're a beginner or expert... Create delicate and elegantly mobile combinations is twisted and bent twice to have very high self pollinating rates Larsen...

University Of Miami Dermatology Faculty, Articles W

what animals eat purple needle grass