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Agrostis exarata
Agrostis exarata Trin.
Spike Bentgrass, Spiked Bent, Spike Red Top
Poaceae (Grass Family)
Synonym(s): Agrostis aenea, Agrostis alaskana, Agrostis ampla, Agrostis asperifolia, Agrostis exarata ssp. minor, Agrostis exarata var. minor, Agrostis exarata var. monolepis, Agrostis exarata var. pacifica, Agrostis exarata var. purpurascens, Agrostis longiligula, Agrostis longiligula var. australis, Agrostis melaleuca, Agrostis microphylla var. major
USDA Symbol: AGEX
USDA Native Status: L48 (N), AK (N), CAN (N)
A tufted grass from 1-4 ft. tall. Culms may be slender to relatively stout and are topped with a seedhead that is usually dense and spikelike but sometimes interrupted and somewhat open. The branches are always strongly erect and green to purplish.
From the Image Gallery
No images of this plant
Plant Characteristics
Duration: PerennialHabit: Grass/Grass-like
Root Type: Fibrous
Leaf Arrangement: Alternate
Leaf Complexity: Simple
Leaf Venation: Parallel
Fruit Type: Caryopsis
Size Notes: Up to about 4 feet tall, often shorter.
Leaf: Green
Bloom Information
Bloom Color: Yellow , Green , BrownBloom Time: Apr , May , Jun , Jul , Aug , Sep , Oct
Distribution
USA: AK , AZ , CA , CO , ID , KY , MT , NE , NM , NV , OK , OR , SD , TX , UT , VT , WA , WYCanada: AB , BC , SK
Native Distribution: AK to CA, e. to Alt., TX & Mex.; also locally to the Dakotas & NE
Native Habitat: Moist meadows; canyons
Growing Conditions
Water Use: MediumLight Requirement: Part Shade
Soil Moisture: Moist
CaCO3 Tolerance: Low
Soil Description: Various moist soils.
Benefit
Use Food: Seeds harvested for food by indigenous peoples.Attracts: Butterflies
Larval Host: The Grass Family is an essential larval food for most branded skippers and most of the satyrs.
Find Seed or Plants
Find seed sources for this species at the Native Seed Network.
National Wetland Indicator Status
Region: | AGCP | AK | AW | CB | EMP | GP | HI | MW | NCNE | WMVE |
Status: | FACW | FACW | FACW | FACW | FACW | FAC | FACW |
From the National Organizations Directory
According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is on display at the following locations:Native Seed Network - Corvallis, OR
Bibliography
Bibref 1218 - Tending the Wild: Native American Knowledge and the Management of California's Natural Resources (2006) Anderson, M. KatSearch More Titles in Bibliography
Web Reference
Webref 30 - Calflora (2018) CalfloraWebref 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 exarata in USDA PlantsFNA: Find Agrostis exarata in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Agrostis exarata
Metadata
Record Modified: 2022-10-31Research By: TWC Staff