SafePlants

Downy Oat-grass (Avenula pubescens)

Avenula pubescens, also known as downy oat-grass or downy alpine oatgrass, is a perennial flowering plant. It was formerly classified as Avenula pubescens but is now also known by its synonym Helictotrichon pubescens.

Scientific Classification:

• Genus: Avenula
• Family: Poaceae (Grass family)
• Kingdom: Plantae
• Taxonomic Rank: Species, Subspecies (e.g., Avenula pubescens ssp. pubescens)

Synonyms and Alternative Names:

• Helictotrichon pubescens
• Avenochloa pubescens
• Avena pubescens
• Avenula pratensis (often confused with Meadow Oat-grass)

Distribution and Habitat:

Avenula is a genus of approximately 30 species, most of which are European. One species is native to the Flora region, and one has been introduced and is now locally established in North America.

It is also found growing in similar places to Avenula pratensis (Meadow Oat-grass). It is introduced in Canada, specifically Ontario.

Morphological Characteristics:

• Perennial plant.
• Hairy.

Stems erect, 30-100 cm (for Avenula pratensis)

Ecology

Eighteen British miners are recorded on Avenula.

Nomenclature

Etymology: Avenula: like Avena which is Latin for "oats"

Similar Species:

• Can be confused with false oat-grass (Arrhenatherum elatius) and meadow oat grass (Avenula pratensis).

Further Information:

• The Plant List: Includes scientific plant names for the genus Avenula.
• IPNI (International Plant Names Index)
• Australian Plant Name Index
• Index Nominum Genericorum (ING)
• Flora of North America
• Database of Vascular Plants of Canada (VASCAN)
• Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of Natural History, Department of Botany
• TERMIUM (Government of Canada's terminology and linguistic data bank)
• Biological Flora of the British Isles: Includes detailed information on Avenula pratensis and Avenula pubescens.