Publication: Sp. Pl. 1: 62. 1753 1753.

Origin: Introduced from Europe

Herbarium search: CPNWH

Notes: FNA24: "Agrostis capillaris grows along roadsides and in disturbed areas. It was introduced from Europe, and is now well established in western and eastern North America. It is often used for fine-leaved lawns; commercial seed sold as Agrostis tenuis "˜Highland\\' usually contains A. capillaris.

Agrostis capillaris differs from A. gigantea in its short ligules, especially on the vegetative shoots, and the open panicles that lack spikelets near the base of the branches. It differs from A. castellana in having diffuse rather than clustered spikelets, fewer rhizomes, divaricate panicle branches after anthesis, calluses that are glabrous or with hairs up to 0.1 mm long, and glabrous lemmas. It also tends to flower somewhat earlier than A. castellana. Agrostis capillaris readily hybridizes with A. vinealis, the hybrids being somewhat intermediate between the two parents."

Last updated 11/22/2023 by David Giblin.