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Agrostis canina

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Agrostis canina
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Clade: Commelinids
Order: Poales
Family: Poaceae
Subfamily: Pooideae
Genus: Agrostis
Species:
A. canina
Binomial name
Agrostis canina

Agrostis canina, the velvety bentgrass,[2] brown bent or velvet bent,[3] is a species of grass in the family Poaceae.

Description

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Inflorescence

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).[4] 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.[3]

The leaf blades are 2–15 cm (0.8–5.9 in) long and 1–3 mm (0.04–0.12 in) wide,[5] with an acute or acuminate ligule up to 4 mm (0.16 in) long.[4]

The plant flowers from May to July,[3] 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.[5] 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.[3]

Distribution and ecology

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The range of Agrostis canina covers most of Europe and temperate parts of Asia, and extends from sea level to the alpine zone.[6] It has also been introduced to eastern North America, Hawaiʻi, Algeria and the Kerguelen Islands.[1]

Agrostis canina is sensitive to drought,[6] but is common in damp places, including ditches and lake margins.[7]

The short, green growth of A. canina has made it popular as a lawn grass.[5]

References

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  1. ^ a b Lansdown, R.V. (2014). "Agrostis canina". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2014: e.T167861A42382326. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2014-1.RLTS.T167861A42382326.en. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
  2. ^ English Names for Korean Native Plants (PDF). Pocheon: Korea National Arboretum. 2015. p. 344. ISBN 978-89-97450-98-5. Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 May 2017. Retrieved 25 January 2016 – via Korea Forest Service.
  3. ^ 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 978-0-8122-4003-0.
  4. ^ 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.
  5. ^ 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.
  6. ^ a b Alain Peeters. "Agrostis canina L." Grassland Spsecies Profiles. Food and Agriculture Organization. Archived from the original on June 28, 2011. Retrieved February 14, 2011.
  7. ^ Carl Farmer. "Velvet Bent. Agrostis canina s.s." West Highland Flora. Archived from the original on September 25, 2006. Retrieved February 14, 2011.
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