| Agrostis avenacea | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Monocots |
| (unranked): | Commelinids |
| Order: | Poales |
| Family: | Poaceae |
| Genus: | Agrostis |
| Species: | A. avenacea |
| Binomial name | |
| Agrostis avenacea J.F.Gmel. |
|
| Synonyms | |
|
Agrostis retrofracta |
|
Agrostis avenacea is a species of grass known by the common names Pacific bent grass and New Zealand wind grass. It is native to Australia, New Zealand, and other Pacific Islands including New Guinea and Easter Island.
Pacific bent grass is a tufted perennial grass growing up to 65 centimeters tall. The inflorescence is a panicle of wispy strands, each with several tiny, fuzzy spikelets at the end. The spikelets are two or three millimeters long.
Agrostis avenacea is known elsewhere as an introduced species and sometimes a noxious weed. It is particularly invasive in California, where it is a weed of sensitive vernal pool ecosystems around San Diego.[1]