NameThatPlant.net: Agrostis capillaris

Spermatophytes (seed plants): Angiosperms (flowering plants): Monocots: Commelinids: Poales

WEAKLEY'S FLORA OF THE SOUTHEASTERN US (4/24/22):
Agrostis capillaris FAMILY Poaceae Go to FSUS key

Dig deeper at SERNEC, a consortium of southeastern herbaria.

Check out EDDMapS.org to see where this has been reported.

Learn more about Rhode Island Bentgrass from the Vascular Plants of North Carolina.

SYNONYMOUS WITH PLANTS NATIONAL DATABASE:
Agrostis capillaris FAMILY Poaceae

SYNONYMOUS WITH Flora of North America north of Mexico, vol. 24 (2007)

Agrostis capillaris

SYNONYMOUS WITH VASCULAR FLORA OF THE CAROLINAS (Radford, Ahles, & Bell, 1968) 029-46-002:

Agrostis tenuis FAMILY Poaceae

SYNONYMOUS WITH Manual of the Grasses of the US (Hitchcock & Chase, 1950)

Agrostis tenuis

SYNONYMOUS WITH Manual of the Southeastern Flora (Small, 1933, 1938)

Agrostis tenuis

COMMON NAME:
Rhode Island Bentgrass, Colonial Bentgrass, Browntop

To see larger pictures, click or hover over the thumbnails.

image of Agrostis capillaris, Rhode Island Bentgrass, Colonial Bentgrass, Browntop

USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database / Hitchcock, A.S. (rev. A. Chase). 1950 pnd_agte_001_lhd

WEAKLEY'S FLORA OF THE SOUTHEASTERN US (4/24/22):
Agrostis capillaris FAMILY Poaceae

SYNONYMOUS WITH PLANTS NATIONAL DATABASE:
Agrostis capillaris FAMILY Poaceae

SYNONYMOUS WITH Flora of North America north of Mexico, vol. 24
Agrostis capillaris

SYNONYMOUS WITH VASCULAR FLORA OF THE CAROLINAS (Radford, Ahles, & Bell, 1968) 029-46-002:
Agrostis tenuis FAMILY Poaceae

SYNONYMOUS WITH Manual of the Grasses of the US (Hitchcock & Chase, 1950)
Agrostis tenuis

SYNONYMOUS WITH Manual of the Southeastern Flora (Small, 1933, 1938)
Agrostis tenuis

2463

Grass, Sedge, or Rush
Perennial

Habitat: Meadows, roadsides, disturbed areas, per Weakley's Flora

Non-native: Europe /possibly native to northern North America

Uncommon

map
CLICK HERE to see a map, notes, and images from Weakley's Flora of the Southeastern US.

Invasive?

This plant may be causing problems in natural areas outside its native range, according to authorities such as:

LEAVES:
Simple
Low alternate, 2-ranked

FLOWER:
Summer
Panicle olive to purplish

Inflorescence a panicle

FRUIT:
Summer
Grain

TO LEARN MORE about this plant, look it up in a good book!

Manual of the Grasses of the United States (Hitchcock & Chase, 1950) p341

"We treasure pictures and sculpture. We regard Attic temples and Roman triumphal arches and Gothic cathedrals as of priceless value. But we are, as a whole, still in that low state of civilization where we do not understand that it is also vandalism wantonly to destroy or permit the destruction of what is beautiful in nature, whether it be a cliff, a forest, or a species of mammal or bird. Here in the United States we turn our rivers and streams into sewers and dumping-grounds, we pollute the air, we destroy forests and exterminate fishes, birds and mammals — not to speak of vulgarizing charming landscapes with hideous advertisements." — Theodore Roosevelt

If a search such as "Carex leptalea var. leptalea" doesn't deliver the results you want, try "Carex leptalea".
Or, to minimize chances of a misspelling, try just "Carex le".

Less is more: If "pencil flower" doesn't deliver the results you want, try "pencil".