Agrostis capillaris
SCIENTIFIC NAME: Agrostis capillaris
COMMON NAME(S): Colonial bentgrass
SYNONYM(S):
FAMILY: POACEAE (GRAMINEAE) - Grass family
ORIGIN: Europe
HABITAT: Fields, pastures, roadsides, meadows, lawns
RANGE:
TYPE:
HEIGHT: About 12'" flower stalks to 3' or less
CHARACTERISTICS:
LEAVES: Alternate, simple, linear to about 8"; flat or folded, bristly
FLOWERS: Inconspicuous, on branched, green stems
FLOWERING SEASON: Spring through fall
FRUITS: Inconspicuous, dry, 1-seeded
ALLERGENIC PRINCIPLES: Pollen allergens
ALLERGENIC PROPERTIES: Respiratory
COMMENTS: The bentgrasses are important contributors to grass pollinosis. The chief offender is A. stolonifera (redtop or creeping bentgrass), widely used as a lawn grass and for forage and now well-established throughout North America. A. perennans (Walter) Tuckerman (autumn bent, upland bent), A. elliottiana Schultes, and A. hyemalis (Walter) Britton (hairgrass, ticklegrass) are also common.
