Danthonia decumbens

Danthonia decumbens
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Monocots
(unranked):	Commelinids
Order:	Poales
Family:	Poaceae
Genus:	Danthonia
Species:	D. decumbens
Binomial name
Danthonia decumbens (L.) DC.

Danthonia decumbens (formerly Sieglingia decumbens) is a species of grass commonly known as common heath grass. It is a perennial with a decumbent habit: it lies on the ground with the tips turned upward.

It is found on acid pastures and heathland on sandy or peat, often damp soils.

The grass has no agricultural value. ^[1]

Description

Narrow, bright green leaves taper to a sharp point and are rather hairy. A long upper leaf sheath clasps the delicate stem.

The ligule consists of a ring of hairs, as in Purple Moor Grass (Molinia caerulea), except that in this plant each end has a fringe of hairs.

The stem is 15-30 cm high and slightly bent at the base, smooth with 1 to 3 nodes.

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.

It flowers in the summer months.

Photos

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  inflorescence,
  Spikelets arranged alternately on the stem

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  habitus, aerie,
  Photo by Kristian Peters

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References

1. ^ Grasses by C E Hubbard, 1978, published by Penguin books

• Stace, C, 1997. New Flora of the British Isles. Second edition. p 899.
• Rose, Frances, 1974. Grasses, sedges and rushes, pages 20-21