Agrostis stolonifera, L.

Tutin, T. G., Heywood, V. H., Burges, N. A., Moore, D. M., Valentine, D. H., Walters, S. M. & Webb, D. A., 1980, Flora Europaea. Volume 5. Alismataceae to Orchidaceae (Monocotyledones), Cambridge: Cambridge University Press : 234-235

22. A. stolonifera L. , Sp. Pl. 62 (1753)

( A. alba auct., non L.; inch A. maritima Lam. , A.filifolia Link ).

Stoloniferous perennial, sometimes with short rhizomes bearing up to 3 scale-leaves; stolons up to 200 cm; stems (5—)15—100(—150) cm, smooth. Leaves flat or involute, long-acute, smooth to scabrid; ligule 1 -5-7 mm. Panicle 1-30 cm; branches patent only at anthesis, usually aculeolate, very unequal, often bearing spikelets in the lower Spikelets 2-3 mm, greenish to purplish. Glumes lanceolate, acute, usually aculeolate on the keel. Lemma as long as glumes, rarely with a short awn near the apex; callus with very short hairs. Palea) as long as lemma. Anthers 1-1-5 mm. 2n = 28, 30, 32, 35,42,44, 46. Throughout Europe. All except Sb.

Very variable, but at present no correlation between morphology and chromosome number has been demonstrated, and it does not seem possible to recognize subspecies. Tetraploid plants appear to be much the commonest. Paunero has recognized, but not named, five groups of variants from Spain.