Common bent
Agrostis Capillaris
Auricles
Absent.
Importance
Abundant and widely found in permanent grassland throughout the UK and Europe, particularly in nutrient poor upland areas. Cultivated for use in lawn grasses especially for short fine turf.
Description
Germinates spring to autumn. Perennial up to 70 cm, forms very loose tufts with short rhizomes (summer), rarely stolons (autumn). Youngest leaf rolled. Multi-branched panicle, spikelets small, numerous, without awns. Flowers June to August.
Leaf blade
Hairless dull, slightly shiny below, short and tapers to a sharp point.
Common bent seedling. Photo © Blackthorn arable.
Flower heads. Photo © Alamy Ltd.
Close up of spikelets. Photo © Alamy Ltd.
Ligule
Short or absent (up to 2 mm), truncate to pointed.
Common-bent © Blackthorn arable.
Common bent ligule. © Blackthorn arable
