Aira caryophyllea var. capillaris

(Mert. & W.D.J. Koch) Mutel
Common names: Delicate hairgrass
Synonyms: Aira elegantissima Aira elegans
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 24. Treatment on page 616.

Pedicels 2-11.3 mm, usually 2-8 times as long as the spikelets, gradually thickening to the apices. Spikelets 1.7-2.5 mm, spreading, divergent from the secondary branches, often purplish to reddish-purple-tinged; rachillas not prolonged or vestigial. Glumes subequal, 1.7-2.5 mm, 1-veined, acute; lower lemmas 1.3-1.8 mm, apices bifid, teeth to 0.1 mm, awns absent or to 2.6 mm, straight or geniculate; lower paleas 1-1.3 mm; upper lemmas 1.7-2.1 mm, apices bifid, teeth 0.2-0.4 mm, awned, awns 2.1-3 mm, geniculate; upper paleas 1-1.3 mm; anthers 0.2-0.4 mm, yellow-orange or purple. Caryopses 0.9-1.2 mm long, about 0.3 mm wide, glabrous.

Discussion

Aira caryophyllea var. capillaris is native to Europe, northern Africa, and western Asia. It usually grows in dry to somewhat moist, sandy loam soils of grassy banks, woodland openings, and disturbed sites such as pastures and roadsides.

Aira caryophyllea var. capillaris is the correct name for this taxon at the varietal level. If treated at the species level, its correct name is Aira elegans Willd. ex Roem. & Schult.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.
J.K. Wipff +
(Mert. & W.D.J. Koch) Mutel +
Delicate hairgrass +
Wash. +, Del. +, D.C. +, Conn. +, Mass. +, N.Y. +, Pacific Islands (Hawaii) +, Fla. +, Wyo. +, N.H. +, N.J. +, Tex. +, La. +, B.C. +, N.S. +, Yukon +, Tenn. +, N.C. +, S.C. +, Pa. +, Calif. +, Va. +, Alaska +, Ala. +, Miss. +, Ark. +, Vt. +, Ill. +, Ga. +, Ind. +, Idaho +, Md. +, Ohio +, Mo. +, Okla. +  and Oreg. +
Introduced +
Aira elegantissima +  and Aira elegans +
Aira caryophyllea var. capillaris +
Aira caryophyllea +
variety +