Gateshead Birders

Flora

Creeping Soft-grass


Holcus mollis

Other names:

Photo © Keith Robson
01 July 1987 Washingwell Woods, Gateshead, Co. Durham, UK

Common in woods and grassland, usually with some shade.

Spikelets 4-6 mm long.  Stems of average height for a grass.

ID: Of a very soft appearance similar to Yorkshire Fog, but spikelets with an awn visibly protruding, and stem nodes with a tuft of downward-pointing hairs, rest of stem hairless.

Other features: Spikelets with two florets, the upper having a bent but not recurved awn about 3-5 mm long.  Spreads by creeping rhizomes and forms large stands.

 

 

 


 

 


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