Creeping bent
Agrostis stolonifera
Auricles
Absent.
Leaf blade
Green, greyish or bluish tinge. Long and narrow, tapering to acute point. Hairless but minutely rough. Rolled when young, flat later.
Creeping bent ligule © Alamy Ltd
Ligule
Long: up to 5mm. Roundly pointed tip.
Description
Tufted perennial 30-60 cm. Spreads by surface rooting stolons. Distinguished from Common couch by longer ligule, lack of auricles and fine leaves. Flower head is a narrow pyramid of cylindrical shape, spreading when in flower but closed up when mature. Spikelets are small, narrow, single flowered and awnless.
Importance
Very common in all arable areas occurring on light and heavy soils. May become a problem on lighter soils.
Creeping bent mature plant
Creeping bent flower heads
Creeping bent flower heads © Blackthorn arable.
Creeping bent ligule
