Wavy hairgrass (Avenella flexuosa, Fl. Excurs. Hafn.: 32 (1838))

Family: Poaceae

Author: (L.) Drejer

Bibliography: Fl. Excurs. Hafn.: 32 (1838)

Year: 1838

Status: accepted

Rank: species

Genus: Avenella

Vegetable: False

Observations: Europe to Japan and Malesian Mts., Macaronesia, NW. & Trop. Montane Africa, Greenland to C. & E. U.S.A., S. South America to Falkland Is.

Description

Wavy hairgrass, scientifically known as Avenella flexuosa, is a member of the Poaceae family, a diverse and widespread family of grasses. This species was first described in detail in the early 19th century, specifically documented in the “Flora Excursionistica Hafniensis” (Fl. Excurs. Hafn.) in 1838 by the botanist Niels Lauritz Høyen Drejer.

Avenella flexuosa is celebrated for its resilient and adaptable nature, often found thriving in a variety of environments across multiple continents. Its distribution ranges from the vast expanses of Europe to the distant regions of Japan, extending into the mountainous terrains of Malesian islands. This adaptability is further exemplified by its presence in diverse areas such as Macaronesia, North-Western and Tropical Montane Africa, and even as far north as Greenland. In North America, it is recorded from Central to Eastern United States, while in the Southern Hemisphere, it stretches to South America and the Falkland Islands.

The name “wavy hairgrass” aptly describes the plant’s elegant and undulating stems, which bear delicate, wavy blades that move gracefully with the wind. This characteristic makes it a visually appealing addition to natural landscapes and cultivated gardens alike. Ecologically, Avenella flexuosa plays a significant role in its native habitats, often contributing to soil stabilization and providing cover and forage for various wildlife species.

Thanks to its geographical spread and versatility, wavy hairgrass is an excellent representative of the Poaceae family’s adaptability and ecological importance. Whether carpeting the forest floors of Europe or clinging to the rugged highlands of tropical mountains, Avenella flexuosa embodies the resilience and grace inherent in the world’s grass species.

Common Names

Dan: bølget bunke
Deu: drahtschmiele
Swe: kruståtel, metsälauha, sia
Fin: metsälauha
Nob: smyle
Nno: smyle
Nld: bochtige smele
Eng: wavy hair-grass, wavy hairgrass, crinkled hairgrass
Fra: deschampsie flexueuse, canche flexueuse
Sme: vuovdesitnu, sieivasitnu
En: Wavy hairgrass, Wavy hair-grass
Ca: Descàmpsia flexuosa
Nl: Bochtige smele, Onechte Goudhaver
Fr: Canche flexueuse, Canche des montagnes, Foin tortueux
De: Draht-Schmiele, Drahtschmiele, Geschlängelte Schmiele, Wald-Schmiele, Waldschmiele
It: Migliarino capellino
Cy: Brigwellt Gwyrgam Mynyddol, Brigwellt Main, Brigwellt Main y Waun, Brigwellt y Mynydd
: Mountain wavy hairgrass

Synonyms

• Deschampsia flexuosa f. vivipara (Hyl.)
• Podionapus flexuosus ((L.) Dulac)
• Lerchenfeldia flexuosa ((L.) Schur)
• Avena flexuosa ((L.) Schrank)
• Salmasia flexuosa ((L.) Bubani)
• Hierochloe borealis subsp. setifolia ((Hartm.) Andersson)
• Hierochloe setifolia (Hartm.)
• Aira flexuosa (L.)
• Avena montana var. adultior (Weber)
• Deschampsia flexuosa ((L.) Trin.)

Distribution

• Alabama (native)
• Albania (native)
• Algeria (native)
• Argentina Northeast (native)
• Argentina Northwest (native)
• Argentina South (native)
• Arkansas (native)
• Austria (native)
• Baltic States (native)
• Belarus (native)
• Belgium (native)
• Borneo (native)
• Bulgaria (native)
• Burundi (native)
• Central European Rus (native)
• Chile Central (native)
• Chile North (native)
• Chile South (native)
• Congo (native)
• Connecticut (native)
• Corse (native)
• Czechoslovakia (native)
• Delaware (native)
• Denmark (native)
• District of Columbia (native)
• East European Russia (native)
• Ethiopia (native)
• Falkland Is. (native)
• Finland (native)
• Florida (native)
• France (native)
• Føroyar (native)
• Georgia (native)
• Germany (native)
• Great Britain (native)
• Greece (native)
• Greenland (native)
• Hungary (native)
• Iceland (native)
• Illinois (native)
• Indiana (native)
• Iran (native)
• Ireland (native)
• Italy (native)
• Japan (native)
• Kamchatka (native)
• Kentucky (native)
• Kenya (native)
• Khabarovsk (native)
• Krasnoyarsk (native)
• Kuril Is. (native)
• Labrador (native)
• Louisiana (native)
• Madeira (native)
• Magadan (native)
• Maine (native)
• Maryland (native)
• Masachusettes (native)
• Michigan (native)
• Minnesota (native)
• Mississippi (native)
• Missouri (native)
• Morocco (native)
• Nepal (native)
• New Brunswick (native)
• New Hampshire (native)
• New Jersey (native)
• New York (native)
• Newfoundland (native)
• North Carolina (native)
• North Caucasus (native)
• North Dakota (native)
• North European Russi (native)
• Northwest European R (native)
• Norway (native)
• Nova Scotia (native)
• Ohio (native)
• Oklahoma (native)
• Ontario (native)
• Pennsylvania (native)
• Philippines (native)
• Poland (native)
• Portugal (native)
• Prince Edward I. (native)
• Québec (native)
• Romania (native)
• Rwanda (native)
• Sakhalin (native)
• Sardegna (native)
• Sicilia (native)
• South Carolina (native)
• South European Russi (native)
• Spain (native)
• Sweden (native)
• Switzerland (native)
• Taiwan (native)
• Tanzania (native)
• Tennessee (native)
• Texas (native)
• Transcaucasus (native)
• Turkey (native)
• Turkey-in-Europe (native)
• Uganda (native)
• Ukraine (native)
• Uruguay (native)
• Vermont (native)
• Virginia (native)
• West Himalaya (native)
• West Siberia (native)
• West Virginia (native)
• Wisconsin (native)
• Yugoslavia (native)
• Zaïre (native)
• Alaska (introduced)
• Aleutian Is. (introduced)
• Brazil South (introduced)
• Brazil West-Central (introduced)
• British Columbia (introduced)
• California (introduced)
• Cape Provinces (introduced)
• Colorado (introduced)
• Costa Rica (introduced)
• Ecuador (introduced)
• Hawaii (introduced)
• Idaho (introduced)
• Mexico Central (introduced)
• New Zealand North (introduced)
• New Zealand South (introduced)
• Oregon (introduced)
• Rhode I. (introduced)
• South Georgia (introduced)
• Tristan da Cunha (introduced)
• Washington (introduced)
• Wyoming (introduced)
• Yukon (introduced)

Additional Images

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Leaf

Taken Jun 14, 2022 by SeppOlawi XII (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 26, 2020 by Daniel Bäck (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 4, 2022 by dns dlsn (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 26, 2020 by Daniel Bäck (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 30, 2021 by Wendell Wangari (cc-by-sa)

Flower

Taken Jun 18, 2022 by norahmia eva (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 26, 2020 by Daniel Bäck (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 27, 2022 by Agnes Pfraumer (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 26, 2020 by Daniel Bäck (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 11, 2011 by Pedro Gaspar (cc-by-sa)

Bark

Taken Jun 5, 2022 by Daniel Bourget (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jan 1, 1900 by EOL − Soreng, R.J. (cc-by-nc-sa)

Fruit

Taken Jan 1, 1900 by EOL − Encyclopedia of Life (cc-by-nc)

Taken Jan 1, 1900 by EOL − Encyclopedia of Life (cc-by-nc)

Taken Nov 21, 2021 by Georg Jurceka (cc-by-sa)

Taken Nov 21, 2021 by Georg Jurceka (cc-by-sa)

Habit

Taken Jan 1, 1900 by EOL − Encyclopedia of Life (cc-by-nc)

Taken Jan 1, 1900 by EOL − Encyclopedia of Life (cc-by-nc)

Taken Jan 1, 1900 by EOL − Encyclopedia of Life (cc-by-nc-sa)

Taken Aug 24, 2012 by EOL − Kelly O’Donnell (cc-by-nc-sa)

Taken Jan 1, 1900 by EOL − Soreng, R.J. (cc-by-nc-sa)

Sources

• WFO (No URL)
• IPNI (No URL)
• GBIF (https://www.gbif.org/species/4149465)
• POWO (http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:391947-1)
• PlantNet (https://identify.plantnet.org/species/the-plant-list/Deschampsia flexuosa (L.) Trin.)
• GBIF (https://www.gbif.org/species/2703179)

Specifications

Growth form: Bunch

Growth habit: Graminoid

Growth rate: Moderate

Growth

Ph maximum: 6.8

Ph minimum: 4.8

Light: 5

Atmospheric humidity: 5

Bloom months: [‘may’, ‘jun’, ‘jul’, ‘aug’]

Soil nutriments: 3