Deschampsia flexuosa

Deschampsia flexuosa, commonly known as wavy hair-grass, is a species of bunchgrass in the grass family widely distributed in Eurasia, Africa, South America, and North America.[1]

Deschampsia flexuosa
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Clade: Commelinids
Order: Poales
Family: Poaceae
Subfamily: Pooideae
Genus: Deschampsia
Species:
D. flexuosa
Binomial name
Deschampsia flexuosa
(L.) Trin.
Synonyms[1]

Description

Wavy hair-grass, Deschampsia flexuosa, has wiry leaves and delicate, shaking panicles formed of silvery or purplish-brown flower heads on wavy, hair-like stalks. The leaves are bunched in tight tufts with plants forming a very tussocky, low sward 5 to 20 cm tall before flowering, to 30 cm high.

  • Illustration of D. flexuosa (including D. caespitosa)
  • Mature inflorescence

Distribution and habitat

Deschampsia flexuosa is found naturally in dry grasslands and on moors and heaths.

It is also an important component of the ground flora of birch and oak woodland.[2]

The plant has a preference for acidic, free-draining soil, and avoids chalk and limestone areas. It can exist over 1,200 metres (3,900 ft) above sea level.[3]

See also

References
  1. Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families
  2. see British NVC community W11 (Quercus petraea–Betula pubescens–Oxalis acetosella woodland) and British NVC community W16 (Quercus spp.–Betula spp.–Deschampsia flexuosa woodland).
  3. BSBI Description Archived 2011-07-17 at the Wayback Machine retrieved 1 December 2010.


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