Agrostis canina | |
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Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
(unranked): | Angiosperms |
(unranked): | Monocots |
(unranked): | Commelinids |
Order: | Poales |
Family: | Poaceae |
Genus: | Agrostis |
Species: | A. canina |
Binomial name | |
Agrostis canina L. |
Agrostis canina, known as brown bent or velvet bent,[1] is a species of grass.
Contents |
Agrostis canina is a perennial plant, with stolons but no rhizomes, and culms which grow to a height of up to 75 centimetres (30 in).[2] It is frequently confused with Agrostis vinealis (formerly treated as a subspecies or variety of A. canina), which grows in more upland habitats and has rhizomes rather than stolons.[1]
The leaf blades are 2–15 cm (0.8–5.9 in) long and 1–3 mm (0.04–0.12 in) wide,[3] with an acute or acuminate ligule up to 4 mm (0.16 in) long.[2]
The plant flowers from May to July,[1], and the inflorescence is a panicle 3–16 cm (1.2–6.3 in) long and up to 7 cm (2.8 in) wide, with rough branches.[3] Each spikelet is 1.9–2.5 mm (0.07–0.10 in) long; the lemma is 1.6 mm (0.063 in) long with an awn attached around the middle.[1]
The range of Agrostis canina covers most of Europe and temperate parts of Asia, and extends from sea level to the alpine zone.[4]
Agrostis canina is sensitive to drought,[4] but is common in damp places, including ditches and lake margins.[5]
The short, green growth of A. canina has made it popular as a lawn grass.[3]