Grasses: Hedgebanks & Roadsides
What are they?
This page aims to make the identification of grasses a little easier by bringing together the commoner species that are likely to be found in a particular habitat. This should help you to learn the more likely species that you will come across, though it should always be remembered that occasional individuals of other species may turn up in unexpected places from time to time.
Where are they found?
Grasses form extensive tracts of habitat in our countryside, both where planted and where occurring naturally. This page covers the species that are widely and commonly found beside roads outside of urban areas, as well as along the foot of hedges in the wider countryside. Many such sites are mown on a regular or irregular basis, which affetcs the overall size of the plants and also affects whether they manage to flower or not. Perennial species often form the major constituent of plant communities in such places, while annuals will occur where there is surface disturbance, or along the front edge of the roadside, next to the metalled surface. Where a grass bank or roadside passes through more wooded countryside, species that prefer shade can become more prevelant.
Identification
Identifying grasses successfully requires at least a basic knowledge of the plant parts and thus it's useful to know the names of these parts (it's much easier mentioning lemmas and glumes if one doesn't have to describe where they are every time!) To assist in this, you can click here to reference a page that gives details of these features. A good rule of thumb when working through the identification of any plant is to work from bottom to top with the whole plant and from outside to the middle with the flower parts (i.e. root, stem, leaf, flowers... sepal, petal, stamen, stigma) and this rule is generally followed here, though of course grass flowers have glumes, lemma, palea, stamens, stigma.
One important point to remember with grasses is that the flower spike can look very different according to how far along the process from flowering to setting seed that it is. Many species begin with a tight, rod-like cluster which opens out when in full flower and then closes back up again after pollination. Thus, it is important to look carefully at the parts of the florets (individual flowers) regardless of the shape of the overall flower spike, just to be sure. To get around this variability, botany books often write descriptions of grasses when they are said to be 'at anthesis'. This simply means at the point that the anthers open to release the pollen and this ensures that we are always looking at the flowers at the same point in their development. Grasses can still be identified outside of this point, but you need to understand that the overall spike might look different (the smaller flower parts will generally not change much, however). To simplify this a little, I have used the terms 'early flower spike/spikelets/florets' for spikes where the flowers have not yet reached anthesis; 'flowering spike' for plants at or around anthesis; 'late flower spike' for spikes where the flowers have passed anthesis and are progressing towards seed set. Where these terms are not used, you can assume that the flower spike doesn't change significantly in appearance over the course of the flowering period.
While this page contains the species that you are most likely to come across in most situations, it should be noted that most of them have look-alike, closely-related species. Therefore, it is recommended that you follow the link given for each species to the page where it will be compared in greater detail with possible confusion species, as a way of confirming your identification.
False Oat-grass Arrhenatherum elatius
A native perennial, common to abundant in many kinds of grassy places and often forming continuous cover for many miles along main roads, hedgebanks and on coastal floodbanks and similar places. Flowers June to August. Plants 50-180cm in height, loosely tussock-forming. Leaf blades 4-10mm wide, hairless or slightly hairy beneath, flat and pointed. Leaf sheaths rounded, usually smooth but sometimes a little hairy. Ligule membranous, short, rounded at the tip. Flower spike narrow when young, spreading at anthesis and becoming very narrow and upright with age. Spikelets 7-11mm with usually 2 florets (occasionally up to 5). Lower lemma with a 10-20mm awn, upper lemma shortly awned or awnless. Compare with other oat-grasses.
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Yellow Oat-grass Trisetum flavescens
A native perennial, common in many kinds of grassy places, especially old commons and roadsides, on all but the most acidic soils. Flowers May to July. Plants 20-100cm in height, loosely tussock-forming. Leaf blades 2-10mm wide, variably hairy or hairless, flat and pointed. Leaf sheaths rounded, the lower ones often hairy. Ligule membranous, 0.5-2mm, rounded at the tip. Flower spike narrow when young, spreading at anthesis and becoming narrow and upright again with age. Spikelets 5-7mm with 2-4 florets. Lemmas 4-5.7mm with a 2.5-9mm awn arising from or near the middle of the back. A graceful grass, often forming extensive colonies of stems and developing a rich, yellow-straw colour. Compare with other oat-grasses.
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Yorkshire-fog Holcus lanatus
A native perennial, common to abundant in many kinds of grassy places and often forming large stands on roadsides, banks and rough ground. Flowers May to September. Plants 20-100cm in height, variously as spaced stems or densely tussock-forming according to land use and management. Leaf blades 3-10mm wide, softly hairy or downy, flat and pointed. Leaf sheaths rounded, hairy. Ligule membranous, short to medium. Flower spike very narrow when young and typically pinkish-purple in colour, spreading at anthesis and remaining open with age. Spikelets 4-6mm with usually 2 florets. Lemmas keeled, the lower unawned, uppers shortly awned. Compare with other oat-grasses.
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Common Cock's-foot Dactylis glomerata
A native perennial, common to abundant in many kinds of grassy places, especially roadsides and rough or neglected ground. Flowers June to September. Plants 15-140cm in height, typically densely tussock-forming. Leaf blades 2-14mm wide, greyish-green, coarse, folded at first but opening flat. Leaf sheaths strongly keeled (due to flattened stems), hairless but rough to the touch. Ligule membranous, medium to long. Flower spike consisting of one or two, well-spaced lower branches and a cluster of short branches at the top, the lower branches at right angles during anthesis and folding up with age. Spikelets 5-9mm with 2-5 florets, the spikelets tightly bunched in one-sided clusters. Lemmas tightly packed, elongated and sharp-pointed with a stiff awn. A very distinctive species once learned.
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Common Bent Agrostis capillaris
A native perennial found in most grassy places but especially on acid soils. Widely used as a grass for fine lawns and often spreading into nearby paving and borders. Flowers June to August. Plants 10-70cm in height and spreading by short rhizomes to form slightly tufted patches. Leaf blades 1-5mm wide, hairless, finely pointed at the tip. Leaf sheaths rounded, smooth. Leaf ligule mebranous, long. Flower spike very narrow when young, open and spreading at anthesis and remaining open at fruiting. Spikelets tiny, 2-3.5mm, clustered towards the tips of very fine branchlets with a single floret in each spikelet. Lemmas not awned. Spikelets may be green (especially in shade) but are more often purplish. Compare with other bents.
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Creeping Bent Agrostis stolonifera
A native perennial, abundant in grassy places and readily spreading into nearby tracks and paving. Flowers July to August. Plants 10-80cm in height and spreading by long, creeping stolons to form large, spreading patches. Leaf blades 0.5-5mm wide, hairless, finely pointed at the tip, rolled when young but eventually flat. Leaf sheaths rounded, smooth. Leaf ligule mebranous, medium to long. Flower spike very narrow when young, open and spreading at anthesis then closing again at fruiting. Spikelets tiny, 2-3mm, clustered towards the tips of very fine branchlets with a single floret in each spikelet. Lemmas not awned. Compare with other bents.
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Perennial Rye-grass Lolium perenne
A native perennial, abundant in most grassy habitats and commonly dominant in hard-wearing lawns in parks and sports grounds. Flowers May to August. Plants 30-80cm in height, variably tussocky or more open and with non-flowering shoots (tillers) at flowering and fruiting time as well as creeping rhizomes. Leaf blades 2-6mm wide, hairless, slightly ridged on the upper side and distinctly glossy on the underside, folded along the midrib when emerging. Leaf sheaths rounded and hairless. Ligule membranous, short. Flower spike long, narrow and wiry. Spikelets 7-20mm with 4-14 florets, alternating from one side to the other along a sinuous central stem, with the flat face of the spikelets at 90 degrees to the central stem. Lemmas blunt or pointed at the tip, but without awns. Compare with other rye-grasses.
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Italian Rye-grass Lolium multiflorum
An introduced annual or short-lived perennial, frequent in grassy habitats on roadsides and unmanaged areas. Flowers June to August. Plants 30-80cm in height, variably tussocky or more open but without non-flowering shoots (tillers) or creeping rhizomes at flowering and fruiting time. Leaf blades 2-10mm wide, hairless, slightly ridged on the upper side and distinctly glossy on the underside, inrolled along their length when emerging. Leaf sheaths rounded and hairless. Ligule membranous, short. Flower spike long, narrow and wiry. Spikelets 8-25mm with 5-15 florets, alternating from one side to the other along a sinuous central stem, with the flat face of the spikelets at 90 degrees to the central stem. Lemmas blunt or pointed at the tip, with an awn up to 10mm long. Compare with other rye-grasses.
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Common Couch Elymus repens
A native perennial, common to abundant in a wide range of disturbed and open ground, roadsides and grassy places. Flowers May to August. Plants 30-120cm in height, variably tussocky or more often forming extensive patches from far-creeping rhizomes. Plants may be green or strongly glaucous (blue-grey). Leaf blades 1.5-10mm wide, hairless, slightly ridged and variably downy on the upper side and rough on the underside, the ridges having rounded (not flat) tops. Leaf sheaths rounded and hairless on the upper leaves, downy on the lower leaves, with the sheaths of the lower leaves not having a row of minute hairs along their exposed margin. Ligule membranous, very short. Flower spike upright or drooping to one side. Spikelets 10-20mm with 3-8 florets, alternating from one side to the other along a sinuous central stem, with the flat face of the spikelets facing the central stem, like clapping hands. Lemmas blunt or pointed at the tip, with or without an awn to 15mm in length. Largely replaced in coastal habitats by Sea Couch (Elymus athericus). Compare with other couches.
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Timothy Phleum pratense
A native perennial, common in natural and semi-natural grasslands, including parks and playing areas as well as roadsides. Flowers May to August. Plants 40-120cm in height, variably tussocky or forming patches. Leaf blades 3-9mm wide, hairless, rather stout. Leaf sheaths rounded and smooth. Ligule membranous, long, with a rounded tip. Flower spike narrow and upright. Spikelets 4-5mm long, each with a single floret, densely packed in the spike. The paired glumes are very distinctive and hide the lemmas and florets; they bear a comb-like line of stiff hairs along their edge and terminate in a pointed spike, 1-2mm long. Compare with other cat's-tails.
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Annual Meadow-grass Poa annua
A native annual or short-lived perennial found in all types of open ground, bare patches in lawns, gravel drives, cracks in walls and pavements etc. Flowers more or less throughout the year, but especially from late November to June. Leaves hairless, pointed at the tip or slightly rounded and hooded, 1-5mm wide. Flower spike open and spreading at anthesis and remaining open at fruiting. Spikelets densely packed with 3-10 florets. Plants in dry places can be very small and compact, but more open and spreading in shady or wetter places. Compare with other meadow-grasses.
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Smooth Meadow-grass Poa pratensis
A native perennial found in many types of grassy places such as lawns, meadows and roadsides, as well as cracks in walls and pavements etc., but typically avoiding wetter places. Flowers May to July. Plants 10-80cm in height according to habitat (shorter in dry, open places, taller when among other plants or in shade) and spreading to form extensive patches. Leaf blades and sheaths hairless, pointed at the tip or slightly rounded and hooded, 2-5mm wide. Leaf ligule mebranous, short. Flower spike open and spreading at anthesis and remaining open at fruiting, with 3-5 branches at the lowest node. Spikelets densely packed with 2-5 florets. Note that this is the commonest of a cluster of rather similar species and subspecies found in East Anglia. Compare with other meadow-grasses.
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Rough Meadow-grass Poa trivialis
A native perennial found in many types of grassy places such as lawns, meadows and roadsides, but especially favouring shady places. Flowers June to July. Plants 20-100cm in height and spreading to form extensive patches by means of many, non-flowering shoots (tillers). Leaf blades 1.5-6mm wide, hairless, pointed at the tip. Leaf sheaths keeled, slightly rough to the touch. Leaf ligule membranous, long. Flower spike open and spreading at anthesis and remaining open at fruiting, with 3-7 branches at the lowest node. Spikelets densely packed with 2-4 florets. Typically the largest of the three common meadow-grasses. Compare with other meadow-grasses.
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Red Fescue Festuca rubra
A native perennial, abundant in all kinds of grassy places. Flowers June to August. Very variable in appearance with several subspecies recognised, especially in coastal habitats. Plants 20-100cm in height and variably spreading or clump forming. Leaf blades often very fine, 1-5mm or more wide according to subspecies, hairless, finely pointed at the tip, rolled or flat. Leaf sheaths rounded, smooth, fused together more or less to the top and hiding the minuscule ligule. Flower spike spreading at anthesis, often slightly drooping towards the tip when young. Spikelets 5-14mm with 3-12 florets. Lemmas shortly awned. Compare with other fescues.
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Tall Fescue Schedonorus arundinaceus
A native perennial, frequent to locally common on roadsides and rough, marginal land, often spreading from where originally sown as a pasture grass. Flowers June to August. Plants 45-200cm in height, often forming tough tussocks, except where regularly mown or grazed. Leaf blades tough, long strap-like, 3-12mm wide, hairless or slightly hairy beneath, tapering to a fine point. Leaf sheaths rounded, not fused together around the stem and ending in two, wing-like auricles that have a few bristles on their margins. Ligule membranous, short. Flower spike narrow when young, spreading at anthesis. Spikelets 10-18mm with 3-10 florets. Lemmas shortly awned or awnless. Compare with other fescues.
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Giant Fescue Schedonorus giganteus
A native perennial, scattered through much of East Anglia on heavier soils in shady places. Flowers July to August. Plants 45-150cm in height, loosely tufted, the stems often with purple nodes. Leaf blades broad, 6-18mm wide, hairless or slightly hairy above, tapering to a fine point. Leaf sheaths rounded, not fused together around the stem and ending in two, smooth, wing-like auricles. Ligule membranous, short, to 2.5mm in length. Flower spike open and spreading at anthesis. Spikelets 8-20mm with 3-10 florets. Lemmas 6-9mm with a rough awn, 10-18mm long and often wavy. Compare with other fescues.
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Barren Brome Anisantha sterilis
A native annual, or overwintering as a biennial. Common to abundant in rough, disturbed or neglected ground, gardens and cultivated borders. Flowers May to July. Plants 15-100cm in height, very variable according to growing conditions. Leaf blades 2-7mm wide, coarse and shortly hairy, the blades typically spirally twisted. Leaf sheaths rounded and hairy. Ligule membranous, long and ragged-tipped. Flower spike consisting of long, slender branches, typically arching gracefully over to one side. Spikelets 40-60mm (including the very long awns) with 4-10 florets, the spikelets carried at the ends of the long branches. Lemmas strongly overlapping at first, later more open, with a long awn 15-30mm in length. Compare with other bromes.
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Great Brome Anisantha diandra
An introduced annual, which is perhaps more common in East Anglia than anywhere else in the country. A weed of arable land that commonly spreads into neighbouring hedgebanks and roadsides where the ground has been bared or disturbed. Flowers May to July. Plants 35-80cm in height, very variable but usually loosely tufted and often form large stands. Leaf blades 4-8mm wide, loosely hairy, rough. Leaf sheaths rounded and hairy. Ligule membranous, 3-6mm long and ragged-tipped. Flower spike consisting of long, slender branches, typically arching gracefully over to one side and with a roughly hairy central stem (rachis). Spikelets 70-90mm (including the very long awns) with 5-8 florets, the spikelets carried at the ends of the long branches. Lemmas strongly overlapping at first, later more open, with a long awn 35-65mm in length. Compare with other bromes.
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Great Hairy Brome Bromopsis ramosa
A native perennial of shady places, found along woodland rides and on roadsides where they pass through wooded areas, especially on the heavier boulder clay soils. Flowers July to August. Plants 45-190cm in height, a stately plant with tall and grtacefully arching spikes. Leaf blades 6-16mm wide, loosely hairy, rough. Leaf sheaths rounded and noticeably hairy, splitting on the back. Ligule membranous, 3-6mm long, rather firm and often ragged. Flower spike consisting of long, slender branches, typically arching gracefully over to one side. Spikelets pendulous, 20-40mm long with 4-11 florets, the spikelets carried at the ends of the long branches. Lemmas strongly overlapping at first, later with incurved margins, with an awn 4-8mm in length. Compare with other bromes.
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Common Soft-brome Bromus hordeaceus
A native annual, or overwintering as a biennial. Common to abundant in rough, disturbed or neglected ground as well as in open swards in grassy places. Flowers May to July. Plants 15-80cm in height, extremely variable according to growing conditions. Leaf blades 2-7mm wide, softly downy. Leaf sheaths rounded and hairy (often hairless on the uppermost sheaths). Ligule membranous, medium length and ragged-tipped. Flower spike upright at first, becoming more open at anthesis, then the branches closing together again later. Spikelets 12-22mm with 6-12 florets (really small plants may have just a single spikelet). Lemmas strongly overlapping, downy, with a short awn 5-10mm in length. The commonest form in a complex group of rather similar species and subspecies. Compare with other bromes.
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Common False-brome Brachypodium sylvaticum
A native perennial, common to abundant in shady places on heavier soils. Flowers July to August. Plants 30-90cm in height, forming densely tufted clumps. Leaf blades 6-12mm wide, narrowing very noticeably into the base, softly downy, upright when young but later arching over, pale green. Leaf sheaths rounded and hairy (sometimes hairless on the uppermost sheaths). Ligule membranous, 1-6mm in length. Flower spike upright at first, later strongly arching as the spikelets mature. Spikelets slender, strongly overlapping each other alternately along a central axis, 20-40mm with 8-16 florets. Lemmas 7-12mm, overlapping, downy, with an awn 7-15mm in length.
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Sweet vernal-grass Anthoxanthum odoratum
A native perennial, widespread and often common in many kinds of grassy places. Often particularly plentiful in old grasslands such as churchyards and well-managed meadows. Flowers April to July - one of the first grasses to flower in the spring. Plants 10-80cm in height, variably tussocky. Leaf blades 1.5-6mm wide, relatively short but otherwise variable, especially in their hairiness. Leaf sheaths rounded and variably smooth or hairy, with a 'beard' of whiskery hairs at the apex. Ligule membranous, medium to long, rounded at the tip. Flower spike narrow but relatively short, broadest in the middle and tapering to a point, 1-10cm in length. Spikelets 6-10mm with 3 florets, the central one fertile, the other two sterile. Lemmas olive-brown with short awns. Flowers with only two anthers (most grasses have three). Compare with other grasses of meadows.
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Reflexed Saltmarsh-grass Puccinellia distans
A native perennial found in a wide range of damp, salt-influenced habitats, including along the sides of inland roads where winter griting takes place. Flowers June to August. Plants up to 60cm in height, tufted and not producing stolons but typically in rather loose, open colonies of plants on more open ground. Leaves greyish-green, hairless, bluntly pointed and hooded at the tip, 1-3mm wide, not inrolled. Leaf ligule membranous, 1-2mm long, bluntly rounded. Flower spike stiff and wiry, open and spreading at anthesis and often with the lower branches reflexed (sometimes not). Spikelets 3-9mm, densely packed with 2-9 florets and clustered towards the tips of the branches. Glumes 0.7-2.8mm, unequal, lemmas 1.5-2.8mm long.
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