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Wavy Hairgrass

Wavy Hairgrass

Avenella flexuosa

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How common: Very common

Wavy Hairgrass is a fine, tuft-forming grass of light forests, heaths and clearings. It makes loose, round clumps with thread‑thin leaves and an airy, floating flower spray in early summer. It is widespread and common in cool regions and on poor soils.

Did you know?

  • In winter it is important food for reindeer in northern areas.
  • It thrives on acidic, low‑nutrient ground and often increases where nitrogen falls from the air.

About the species

Identification

A loose, mounded grass, 30–70 cm tall. Stems upright, very slender and smooth. Leaves are much shorter than the stems, soft and extremely narrow like green threads, often lying close to the ground. The flowering head is a delicate, open spray 3–10 cm long with long, hair‑thin branches that are clearly kinked or zigzag. Tiny flower clusters are yellowish with a purplish tint. Key signs are the thread‑like leaves and the light, floating spray with kinked branches, which separate it from other tufted grasses. Flowers in Finland in June–July.

Plant group

Grasses, sedges and rushes

Habitat

heath forest

Flowering

Jun–Jul

About the habitat

Open, sunny spots in fresh to rather dry conifer woods, heaths and rocky places, as well as clearings, paths and road verges. Prefers acidic, nutrient‑poor soils; in shade it may not flower. Common throughout the country.

Sources

Photo: Botaurus, Public domain https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Deschampsia-flexuosa-01.jpg

Text: Pinkka: Yläkoulun Pinkka - Kuiva kangasmetsä, CC BY 4.0 https://laji.fi/taxon/MX.40567

Text: Pinkka: BIO-503 Suomen kasvisto ja kasvillisuus - Metsät: tuoreet kankaat, CC BY 4.0 https://laji.fi/taxon/MX.40567

Text: Pinkka: BIO-503 Suomen kasvisto ja kasvillisuus - Tunturit: tunturikoivikot, CC BY 4.0 https://laji.fi/taxon/MX.40567

Text: Pinkka: IPS-177 Fennoscandian flora - Acer-Butomus, CC BY 4.0 https://laji.fi/taxon/MX.40567

Text: Wikipedia (Finnish), CC BY-SA 4.0 https://fi.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mets%C3%A4lauha

See also