Danthonia decumbens

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.

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]

Description

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

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
  1. "Danthonia decumbens (L.) DC". The Plant List. Retrieved 27 April 2015.
  2. 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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