Agrostis canina

Agrostis canina
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

Description

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]

Distribution and ecology

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]

References

  1. ^ a b c d Ann Fowler Rhoads, Timothy A. Block & Anna Aniśko (2007). "Agrostis L.". The Plants of Pennsylvania: an Illustrated Manual (2nd ed.). University of Pennsylvania Press. pp. 322 326. ISBN 9780812240030. http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=TUVxB7goeV0C&pg=PA323. 
  2. ^ a b Clive A. Stace (2010). "Agrostis L. – Bents". New Flora of the British Isles (3rd ed.). Cambridge University Press. pp. 1026–1030. ISBN 978-0-521-70772-5. 
  3. ^ a b c C. E. Hubbard (1984). "Velvet bent – Agrostis canina L. subsp. canina". Grasses: a Guide to their Structure, Identification, Uses and Distribution in the British Isles (3rd ed.). Penguin Books. pp. 294–295. ISBN 978-0-14-013227-4. 
  4. ^ a b Alain Peeters. "Agrostis canina L.". Grassland Spsecies Profiles. Food and Agriculture Organization. http://www.fao.org/ag/AGP/AGPC/doc/Gbase/DATA/pf000417.htm. Retrieved February 14, 2011. 
  5. ^ Carl Farmer. "Velvet Bent. Agrostis canina s.s.". West Highland Flora. http://www.plant-identification.co.uk/skye/gramineae/agrostis-canina-ss.htm. Retrieved February 14, 2011. 

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