SafePlants

Wavy Hair-grass (Deschampsia flexuosa)

Deschampsia flexuosa, commonly known as wavy hair-grass, is a species of bunchgrass in the grass family.

Considerations for Pets

• This grass has fine, needle-like leaves.
• It produces small seeds on slender stalks.

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

• Scientific Name: Deschampsia flexuosa (L.) Trin.
• Common Name: Wavy Hair-grass
• Family: Poaceae (Grass Family)
• Synonyms: Avenella flexuosa L., Lerchenfeldia flexuosa (L.) Schur, Aira flexuosa

Distribution and Habitat

• Wavy hair-grass is widely distributed in Eurasia, Africa, and South America.
• It avoids chalk and limestone areas, preferring more acidic soils.
• It inhabits thin, sandy soils of mountains, woodlands, and sand plains.
• It can sometimes form large stands on mid-elevation, forested areas.
• It thrives in dry shade.

Morphological Characteristics

• It is a tuft-forming or bunchgrass, growing to a short to medium height (25-45 cm tall, with panicles reaching 18-24 inches).
• It has fine, hair-like leaves.
• It features delicate, shaking flower heads with open clusters of delicate, purplish or shining silvery spikelets on slender stalks.
• The stems are described as wavy.

Quirky Facts

• The wavy nature of the stems is due to tiny zig-zag perturbations, though they may be difficult to discern in photographs.

Ecological Role

• Wavy Hair Grass (Deschampsia flexuosa) is food for certain moth species.
• It can dominate grassland, as noted in heathland restoration efforts involving turf-stripping.

Further Information

• The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) provides information on Deschampsia flexuosa 'Tatra Gold'.
• Dave's Garden is a community forum where people share tips and ideas for gardens, seeds, and plants.
• Discover Life offers a page about the biology, natural history, ecology, identification, and distribution of Deschampsia flexuosa.
• TERMIUM is the Government of Canada's terminology and linguistic data bank.