Heath-grass - Danthonia decumbens

Description

A densely tufted grass. Ligule is a dense fringe of short hairs. Panicles with few spikelets (usually less than 12) each with 4-6 florets.  Lemmas with dense, short hairs at base and to halfway along margins

Identification difficulty
ID checklist (your specimen should have all of these features)

Ligule is a dense fringe of short hairs. Panicles with few spikelets (usually less than 12) each with 4-6 florets.  Lemmas with dense, short hairs at base and to halfway along margins

Recording advice

Unless identified by a recognised expert, photographs are required showing the various parts of the plant. If the photos do not show the key ID features then in the comments box describe the size and identifying characters you have observed.

Habitat

Pastures, heathy grassland and moorland, favouring mildly acidic soils.

When to see it

In flower during June, July and August.

Life History

Perennial herb. It spreads by seed and seems to have a persistent seed bank.

UK Status

Widespread in Britain, but possibly declining.

VC55 Status

Occasional in Leicestershire and Rutland, possibly becoming more scarce.

Leicestershire & Rutland Map

MAP KEY:

Yellow squares = NBN records (all known data)
Coloured circles = NatureSpot records: 2025+ | 2020-2024 | pre-2020

UK Map

Species profile

Common names
Heath-grass
Species group:
Grasses, Rushes & Sedges
Kingdom:
Plantae
Order:
Poales
Family:
Poaceae
Records on NatureSpot:
3
First record:
01/01/2012 (Louise Marsh;Neill Talbot;Paul Stevens)
Last record:
15/07/2024 (Higgott, Mike)

Total records by month

% of records within its species group

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