Aira caryophyllea var. caryophyllea

Common names: Silver hairgrass
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 24. Treatment on page 616.

Pedicels 0.9-7 mm, usually 1-2 times as long as the spikelets, gradually thickening to the apices. Spikelets 2-3.3(3.5) mm, usually appressed to the secondary branches, silvery-green to stramineous; rachillas not prolonged. Glumes 2-3.3(3.5) mm, subequal, 1-veined or the upper glumes with 2 lateral veins, these sometimes obscure and usually less than 1/2 the length of the glumes, acute; lower lemmas 2-2.4 mm, apices bifid, teeth 0.2-0.4 mm, awned, awns 2.4-3.5 mm, geniculate; lower paleas 1.5-1.7 mm; upper lemmas 2-2.6 mm, apices bifid, teeth 0.2-0.3 mm, awned, awns 2.5-3.9 mm; upper paleas 1.4-1.7 mm; anthers 0.2-0.5 mm, yellow to orange. Caryopses 1.4-1.5 mm long, 0.4-0.5 mm wide, glabrous.

Distribution

Wash., Del., D.C., Conn., Mass., N.Y., Pacific Islands (Hawaii), Fla., Wyo., N.H., N.J., Tex., La., B.C., N.S., Yukon, Tenn., N.C., S.C., Pa., Calif., Va., Alaska, Ala., Miss., Ark., Vt., Ill., Ga., Ind., Okla., Idaho, Md., Ohio, Mo., Oreg.

Discussion

Aira caryophyllea var. caryophyllea is native to the Mediterranean region. It usually grows in dry, sandy to rocky soil and on rock outcrops, in open and disturbed sites in woods, grassy flats, pastures, paths, and roadsides; it is occasionally found in damp ground at swamp or lagoon margins.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.
J.K. Wipff +
Silver hairgrass +
Wash. +, Del. +, D.C. +, Conn. +, Mass. +, N.Y. +, Pacific Islands (Hawaii) +, Fla. +, Wyo. +, N.H. +, N.J. +, Tex. +, La. +, B.C. +, N.S. +, Yukon +, Tenn. +, N.C. +, S.C. +, Pa. +, Calif. +, Va. +, Alaska +, Ala. +, Miss. +, Ark. +, Vt. +, Ill. +, Ga. +, Ind. +, Okla. +, Idaho +, Md. +, Ohio +, Mo. +  and Oreg. +
Introduced +
Gramineae +
Aira caryophyllea var. caryophyllea +
Aira caryophyllea +
variety +