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Anderson, Wynn

Agrostis scabra

Agrostis scabra Willd.

Rough Bentgrass, Rough Bent, Ticklegrass, Fly-away Grass

Poaceae (Grass Family)

Synonym(s): Agrostis geminata, Agrostis hyemalis var. geminata, Agrostis hyemalis var. scabra, Agrostis hyemalis var. tenuis, Agrostis scabra ssp. septentrionalis, Agrostis scabra var. geminata, Agrostis scabra var. septentrionalis

USDA Symbol: AGSC5

USDA Native Status: L48 (N), AK (N), CAN (N), GL (N), SPM (N)

Rough bent or ticklegrass is a perennial clump grass, 3 1/2 ft. tall, with long, delicate branches that branch again toward the top. The inflorescence is wide and occupies most of the height of the plant. At first, the inflorescence is purple-green and shining, then tan. It often breaks off and floats around like a tumbleweed.

From the Image Gallery

3 photo(s) available in the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Grass/Grass-like
Root Type: Fibrous
Leaf Arrangement: Alternate
Leaf Complexity: Simple
Leaf Venation: Parallel
Fruit Type: Caryopsis
Size Notes: Up to about 3-1/2 feet tall.
Leaf: Green

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: Yellow
Bloom Time: Mar , Apr

Distribution

USA: AK , AL , AR , AZ , CA , CO , CT , DE , FL , GA , IA , ID , IL , IN , KY , LA , MA , MD , ME , MI , MN , MS , MT , NC , ND , NE , NH , NJ , NM , NV , NY , OH , OR , PA , RI , SC , SD , TN , TX , UT , VA , VT , WA , WI , WV , WY
Canada: AB , BC , MB , NB , NL , NS , NT , NU , ON , PE , QC , SK , YT
Native Distribution: Nf. to AK, s. to FL, LA, NM & CA
Native Habitat: Moist meadows; streamsides; open woods.

Growing Conditions

Water Use: Medium
Light Requirement: Sun
Soil Moisture: Dry
CaCO3 Tolerance: Low
Drought Tolerance: High
Soil Description: Mucky to moist, sandy soils.
Conditions Comments: When A. hiemalis is separated from A. scabra, its range is from the eastern U.S. to WI, KS & TX. Without A. hiemalis, the range of A. scabra does not include the extreme s.e. U.S.

Benefit

Attracts: Birds
Larval Host: The Grass Family is an essential larval food for most branded skippers and most of the satyrs.

National Wetland Indicator Status

Region:	AGCP	AK	AW	CB	EMP	GP	HI	MW	NCNE	WMVE
Status:	FAC	FAC	FAC		FAC	FAC		FAC	FAC	FAC

This information is derived from: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. (2023). 2022 National Wetland Plant List, version 3.6. U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center, Vicksburg, MS. https://wetland-plants.usace.army.mil/. Click here for map of regions.

From the National Organizations Directory

According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is on display at the following locations:

NPSOT - Austin Chapter - Austin, TX

Web Reference

Webref 30 - Calflora (2018) Calflora
Webref 38 - Flora of North America (2019) Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.
Webref 23 - Southwest Environmental Information Network (2009) SEINet - Arizona Chapter

Additional resources

USDA: Find Agrostis scabra in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Agrostis scabra in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Agrostis scabra

Metadata

Record Modified: 0000-00-00
Research By: TWC Staff

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