Suomi
Svenska
Downy alpine oatgrass
Avenula pubescens
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Downy alpine oatgrass is a medium-tall grass that grows in loose clumps and has narrow, airy flower sprays that look a bit like small oats. The small flowers often shine silvery to purplish and carry long bristles. It is typically seen in open, sunny grasslands and along roads and railways.
Did you know?
- The word “pubescens” means softly hairy, referring to the down on the lower leaves and leaf bases.
- Its flower clusters can gleam silvery‑violet in sunlight.
About the species
Identification
Forms loose clumps, 30–80 cm tall. Stems smooth, with a few joints. Leaves flat and narrow (about 2–7 mm), fresh green; the lowest leaves and the parts wrapping the stem are softly hairy. The flower head is a narrow, airy spray 6–15 cm long. The small oat‑like parts are silvery to purplish and usually carry two or three long, straight bristles around 2 cm. Similar meadow oat‑grass and tall oat‑grass lack this mix of hairy lower leaves and two to three long bristles. Flowers in Finland in June–July.
Plant group
Grasses, sedges and rushes
Habitat
meadow
Flowering
Jun–Jul
About the habitat
Dry to fresh meadows and pastures, sunny slopes, stony ground, and open, disturbed places such as roadsides and railway banks. Common in the south and southwest; becomes rarer towards the east and north.
Sources
Photo: Jason Grant, CC BY 4.0 https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/6274293514
Text: Pinkka: BIO-503 Suomen kasvisto ja kasvillisuus - Kulttuuriympäristöt: kedot, CC BY 4.0 https://laji.fi/taxon/MX.40554
Text: Pinkka: Kasvitieteen retkeily Ahvenanmaalle - Kastelholman linna, CC BY 4.0 https://laji.fi/taxon/MX.40554
Text: Pinkka: A Pohjolan kasveja - Abies-Allium, CC BY 4.0 https://laji.fi/taxon/MX.40554
Text: Wikipedia (Finnish), CC BY-SA 4.0 https://fi.wikipedia.org/wiki/M%C3%A4kikaura
