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| Agrostis avenacea | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae
|
| (unranked): | |
| (unranked): | Monocots
|
| (unranked): | |
| Order: | |
| Family: | |
| Genus: | |
| Species: | A. avenacea
|
| Binomial name | |
| Agrostis avenacea | |
| Synonyms | |
|
Agrostis retrofracta, Lachnagrostis filiformis[1] | |
Agrostis avenacea is a species of grass known by the common names Pacific bent grass, New Zealand wind grass, fairy grass,[1][2] or blown-grass.[1] It is native to Australia , New Zealand, and other Pacific Islands including New Guinea and Easter Island. While it is found in a wide variety of habitats, it seems particularly invasive in areas with damp soils, such as areas near bodies of water.[3] It has been introduced to southern Africa,[4] the United Kingdom ,[5] Taiwan, the southern United States and Mexico.[6]
Pacific bent grass is a tufted perennial grass growing up to 65 centimeters tall. The leaf blades are flat and about 8-25 centimeters long and 2-3 millimeters wide.[3] The stems, which are round or polygonal, are hollow.[5] The inflorescence, which appears in June and July, may be from 7-30 centimeters long. It consists of a panicle of wispy strands, each with several tiny, fuzzy spikelets at the end. The spikelets are two or three millimeters long.[7]
In Australia it is a fire hazard,[2][8][9] and interferes with trains.[10][11]
Agrostis avenacea is known elsewhere as an introduced species and sometimes a noxious weed. It is particularly invasive in California , where it is a weed of sensitive vernal pool ecosystems around San Diego.[12]
Wikidata ☰ Q2713208 entry