Danthonia decumbens

Danthonia decumbens
Habitus
Spikelets
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Clade: Commelinids
Order: Poales
Family: Poaceae
Genus: Danthonia
Species:
D. decumbens
Binomial name
Danthonia decumbens
Synonyms [1]
  • Avena spicata All. ex Kunth [Invalid]
  • Brachatera decumbens (L.) Desv.
  • Bromus decumbens Koeler
  • Danthonia decipiens (O.Schwarz & Bassler) Á.Löve & D.Löve
  • Danthonia glaberrima (Post) Valdés & H.Scholz
  • Festuca decumbens L.
  • Melica decumbens (L.) Weber
  • Melica rigida Wibel [Illegitimate]
  • Poa decumbens (L.) Scop.
  • Sieglingia decumbens (L.) Bernh.
  • Triodia decumbens (L.) P.Beauv.
  • Triodia glaberrima Post
  • Triodon decumbens (L.) Baumg. [Invalid]

Danthonia decumbens (formerly Sieglingia decumbens) is a species of grass commonly known as the heath grass,[2] heath-grass,[3] or staggers grass[4] It is a tussock grass native to Europe and adjacent parts of Asia and North Africa. It may also be native to Newfoundland and Nova Scotia.

Description

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Danthonia decumbens is a perennial plant with a decumbent habit; it lies on the ground with the tips turned upward.

It has narrow, bright green leaves taper to a sharp point and are rather hairy. A long upper leaf sheath clasps the delicate stem. The stem is 15–30 centimetres (5.9–11.8 in) high and slightly bent at the base, smooth with 1 to 3 nodes.

The ligule consists of a ring of hairs, as in the purple moor grass, Molinia caerulea, except that in this plant each end has a tuft of longer hairs.[2]

The panicle consists of 4 or 5 large erect glaucous silvery green or purplish awnless spikelets. These are arranged alternately on the upper part of the stem. The bunchgrass flowers in the summer months.

Ecology

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The plant is found on acid pastures and heathland, on sandy or peat soils, which are also often damp.

The grass, having no domestic forage value, is not grown agriculturally.[2]

References

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  1. ^ "Danthonia decumbens (L.) DC". The Plant List. Retrieved 27 April 2015.
  2. ^ a b c C. E. Hubbard (1978). Grasses. Revised by J. C. E. Hubbard (3rd ed.). Penguin Books. pp. 350–351. ISBN 978-0-14-013227-4.
  3. ^ Stace, Clive, 1997. New Flora of the British Isles. Second edition. p 899.
  4. ^ USDA, NRCS (n.d.). "​Melica decumbens​". The PLANTS Database (plants.usda.gov). Greensboro, North Carolina: National Plant Data Team. Retrieved 2 July 2015.
  • Rose, Frances, 1974. Grasses, sedges and rushes, pages 20–21
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