SafePlants

No images found for this plant ID: 8979.

Ensure images are uploaded to the Media Library and tagged with "8979" in the "plant_image_tag" taxonomy.

Safe for Children?

✅ Safe: 0
❓ Neutral: 0
❌ Unsafe: 0

Safe for Dogs?

✅ Safe: 0
❓ Neutral: 0
❌ Unsafe: 0

Safe for Cats?

✅ Safe: 0
❓ Neutral: 0
❌ Unsafe: 0

Safe for Reptiles?

✅ Safe: 0
❓ Neutral: 0
❌ Unsafe: 0

Calamagrostis varia

Scientific Name: Calamagrostis varia

Family: Poaceae

Category: Monocot

Growth:

Duration:

Other Names:

       

Calamagrostis varia

Calamagrostis varia, also known as Bergstruisriet (Dutch), Bergstruisgras (Dutch), Piggrr (Swedish), Kalk-Rrhvene (Swedish), and Buntes Reitgras (German), is a perennial grass species appreciated for its attractive habit and upright flower stems.

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

  • Scientific Name: Calamagrostis varia (Schrad.) Host
  • Family: Poaceae (Grass family)
  • Kingdom: Plantae (Flowering Plants)
  • Synonyms:
    • Agrostis varia (Schrad.) C. C. Gmel., nom. illeg.
    • Arundo varia Schrad. (basionym and homotypic synonym)
    • Calamagrostis montana Host (heterotypic synonym)
    • Calamagrostis sylvatica Host (heterotypic synonym)
    • Calamagrostis arundinacea var. varia Fiori
  • Subspecies: Calamagrostis varia subsp. corsica (Hack. ex Briq.)

Distribution and Habitat

Calamagrostis varia is native to Europe.

Morphological Characteristics

  • Habit: Perennial and caespitose (growing in tufts or clumps).
  • Rhizomes: Short.
  • Culms: Erect, 30-120 cm long, with 3 nodes and smooth internodes.
  • Leaves: 3-8 mm wide, rough to the touch (scabrous), with oral hairs at the leaf-sheath. May have hairs on surface.
  • Ligule: 3-6 mm long.
  • Inflorescence: A slender and upright panicle with erect branches (1-3 cm long). It becomes contracted after flowering.

Ecological Role

The text describes the plant as "spreading but not invasive," indicating that while it can expand its presence, it is not considered an aggressive colonizer in its environment.

Quirky Facts

  • In German, Calamagrostis varia is known as "Berg-Reitgras: Ein Spezialist für schwierige Fälle!" which translates to "Mountain Reed Grass: A specialist for difficult cases!" This suggests the plant is adapted to challenging environmental conditions.

Further Information

  • RHS (Royal Horticultural Society) provides information on Calamagrostis varia.
  • EOL (Encyclopedia of Life) has a page for Calamagrostis varia.
  • Wikimedia Commons offers multimedia resources for this species.
  • Tropicos and IPCN provide taxonomic information.
  • The Plant List, IPNI (International Plant Names Index), Australian Plant Name Index, and NYBG (New York Botanical Garden) Virtual Herbarium can be used for name searches.
  • Baseflor has a descriptive fiche of Calamagrostis varia / Calamagrostide bigarre.
  • FloraWeb provides information on Calamagrostis varia (Schrad.) Host, Berg-Reitgras.