Lachnagrostis filiformis (syn. Agrostis avenacea) is a species of grass known by the common names Pacific bent grass, New Zealand wind grass, fairy grass,[2][3] or blown-grass.[2] 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.[4] It has been introduced to southern Africa,[5] the United Kingdom,[6] Taiwan, the southern United States and Mexico.[7]
| Lachnagrostis filiformis | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Monocots |
| Clade: | Commelinids |
| Order: | Poales |
| Family: | Poaceae |
| Subfamily: | Pooideae |
| Genus: | Lachnagrostis |
| Species: | L. filiformis
|
| Binomial name | |
| Lachnagrostis filiformis (G.Forst.) Trin.
| |
| Synonyms[1] | |
| |
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.[4] The stems, which are round or polygonal, are hollow.[6] 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.[8]
In Australia it is a fire hazard,[3][9][10] and interferes with trains.[11][12]
Lachnagrostis filiformis 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.[13]
See also edit
References edit
- ^ "Lachnagrostis filiformis". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. 2022. Retrieved 8 June 2022.
- ^ a b "Common Blown-Grass". Victorian Resources Online. Archived from the original on 2013-04-24. Retrieved 2012-03-28.
- ^ a b "Fairy Grass". City of Ballarat. Archived from the original on 2012-03-19.
- ^ a b Roberts, Philip D.; Parker, Chris (December 10, 2019). "Agrostis avenacea (Pacific bent grass)". CABI Invasive Species Compendium. Retrieved April 22, 2021.
- ^ "Agrostis avenacea J.F.Gmel". www.gbif.org. Retrieved 2021-04-22.
- ^ a b "Agrostis avenacea : Blown-grass | NBN Atlas". species.nbnatlas.org. Retrieved 2021-04-22.
- ^ Jung, Ming-Jer; Wu, Tian-Shung; Kuoh, Chang-Sheng (September 30, 2005). "Notes on Newly Recorded Grasses in Taiwan". ResearchGate. Retrieved April 22, 2021.
- ^ "Agrostis avenacea". ucjeps.berkeley.edu. Retrieved 2021-04-22.
- ^ "Opinions Split Over Fairy Grass Solutions". The Wimmera Mail-Times. 20 Jan 2012.
- ^ "Controlling Lachnagrostis filiformis (Fairy grass) on dry lake beds in western Victoria, Australia". Archived from the original on 2012-07-08.
- ^ "Trekking millipedes sideline trains". The Age. 29 March 2012.
- ^ "Ballarat line infrastructure". Archived from the original on 2013-04-12.
- ^ California Invasive Plant Council
External links edit