Agrostis stolonifera
Encyclopedia
Agrostis stolonifera is a perennial grass species in the Poaceae
family. It is stoloniferous and may form mats or tufts. The prostrate stems of this species grow to 1.3-3.3 ft (0.4–1 m) long with 0.8-4in (2–10 cm) long leaf blades and a panicle
reaching up to 16in (40 cm) in height.
is pointed and up to 5mm long. This differs from Common Bent, Agrostis capillaris
which is short and does not come to a point.
The leaves are tapering, often with a blue grey hue colour. The grass is not tufted and the spikelets are red and tightly closed within the panicle
It flowers in July and August.
on disturbed sites. It is native to Eurasia
and North Africa
(Algeria, Morocco, and Tunisia). It is possible that it may also be to native to northern parts of North America
, and in any case it has been widely introduced and naturalized
on that continent and in many other places.
It is a constituent of wet habitats such as marshy grasslands. Some of its species have adapted to contaminated conditions and can cope with heavy metals. It can exist up to 2500 ft.
The ability of creeping bentgrass to remain palatable and green in the summer is valued for livestock forage
; it also provides good cover for upland game birds and waterfowl
. It is used for turf
in gardens and landscapes, particularly on golf courses.
Poaceae
The Poaceae is a large and nearly ubiquitous family of flowering plants. Members of this family are commonly called grasses, although the term "grass" is also applied to plants that are not in the Poaceae lineage, including the rushes and sedges...
family. It is stoloniferous and may form mats or tufts. The prostrate stems of this species grow to 1.3-3.3 ft (0.4–1 m) long with 0.8-4in (2–10 cm) long leaf blades and a panicle
Panicle
A panicle is a compound raceme, a loose, much-branched indeterminate inflorescence with pedicellate flowers attached along the secondary branches; in other words, a branched cluster of flowers in which the branches are racemes....
reaching up to 16in (40 cm) in height.
Physical description
The liguleLigule
A ligule — is a thin outgrowth at the junction of leaf and leafstalk of many grasses and sedges or a strap-shaped corolla, such as that of a ray floret in plants in the daisy family....
is pointed and up to 5mm long. This differs from Common Bent, Agrostis capillaris
Agrostis capillaris
Agrostis capillaris is a rhizomatous and stoloniferous perennial in the grass family . It is native to Eurasia and has been widely introduced in many parts of the world...
which is short and does not come to a point.
The leaves are tapering, often with a blue grey hue colour. The grass is not tufted and the spikelets are red and tightly closed within the panicle
Panicle
A panicle is a compound raceme, a loose, much-branched indeterminate inflorescence with pedicellate flowers attached along the secondary branches; in other words, a branched cluster of flowers in which the branches are racemes....
It flowers in July and August.
Distribution
It can be found growing in a variety of habitats including woodlands, grasslands and meadows, wetlands, riparian zones, and as a pioneer speciesPioneer species
Pioneer species are species which colonize previously uncolonized land, usually leading to ecological succession. They are the first organisms to start the chain of events leading to a livable biosphere or ecosystem...
on disturbed sites. It is native to Eurasia
Eurasia
Eurasia is a continent or supercontinent comprising the traditional continents of Europe and Asia ; covering about 52,990,000 km2 or about 10.6% of the Earth's surface located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres...
and North Africa
North Africa
North Africa or Northern Africa is the northernmost region of the African continent, linked by the Sahara to Sub-Saharan Africa. Geopolitically, the United Nations definition of Northern Africa includes eight countries or territories; Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, South Sudan, Sudan, Tunisia, and...
(Algeria, Morocco, and Tunisia). It is possible that it may also be to native to northern parts of North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
, and in any case it has been widely introduced and naturalized
Naturalisation (biology)
In biology, naturalisation is any process by which a non-native organism spreads into the wild and its reproduction is sufficient to maintain its population. Such populations are said to be naturalised....
on that continent and in many other places.
It is a constituent of wet habitats such as marshy grasslands. Some of its species have adapted to contaminated conditions and can cope with heavy metals. It can exist up to 2500 ft.
Cultivation
It is the most commonly used species of Agrostis.The ability of creeping bentgrass to remain palatable and green in the summer is valued for livestock forage
Forage
Forage is plant material eaten by grazing livestock.Historically the term forage has meant only plants eaten by the animals directly as pasture, crop residue, or immature cereal crops, but it is also used more loosely to include similar plants cut for fodder and carried to the animals, especially...
; it also provides good cover for upland game birds and waterfowl
Waterfowl
Waterfowl are certain wildfowl of the order Anseriformes, especially members of the family Anatidae, which includes ducks, geese, and swans....
. It is used for turf
Lawn
A lawn is an area of aesthetic and recreational land planted with grasses or other durable plants, which usually are maintained at a low and consistent height. Low ornamental meadows in natural landscaping styles are a contemporary option of a lawn...
in gardens and landscapes, particularly on golf courses.