Woodland Grasses

Slender Spike-grass Silky Oat-grass Wavy Hair-grass Spiked Oat-grass

What are they?

This page brings together a small but interesting group of mostly dainty grasses that are typically found in woodland and shady places, often on tracks and trails.

Where are they found?

These are typically plants of woodland but may also be found in other shady places and occasionally in more open habitats, especially where they persist after woodland has been cleared.

Identification

As with most grasses, careful attention should be paid to all parts, but particularly to the basal part of the leaf, the shape and structure of the flowerhead and the presence or absence of hairs on all parts.



Black Spear-grass      Piptochaetium avenaceum

Dry soils in clearings in wooded areas, such as along railroad tracks and powerline cuts. Flowers late May to July. A distinctive grass with its solitary florets (which turn black as the seed ripens) and very long awns.
Black Spear-grass Black Spear-grass Black Spear-grass Black Spear-grass
Habit
Flower spike
Spikelet with black floret
Leaf clump

Silky Oat-grass      Danthonia sericea

A common grass along woodland trails and other shady openings in forested and lightly wooded areas. Flowers May to late June. Usually found growing in loose, open colonies of plants. Flowerheads have obvious silky hairs on them.
Silky Oat-grass Silky Oat-grass Silky Oat-grass Silky Oat-grass
Early flower spike
Flower spike opens up
as flowers mature
Spikelet
Leaf sheaths hairy

Spiked Oat-grass      Danthonia spicata

A common grass on woodland trails and other shady openings in forested and lightly wooded areas. Flowers May to July. Often found growing in extensive, open colonies of plants. Flowerheads rather simple, carried horizontally at the end of long side arms.
Spiked Oat-grass Spiked Oat-grass Spiked Oat-grass Spiked Oat-grass
Habit
Flower spike
Flower spikelet relatively simple
Leaf ligule &
stem node hairy

White Cut-grass      Leersia virginica

(Whitegrass) A common grass of wet, shady swamps but also frequently found on roadsides and trails in wooded areas. Flowers July to September. A low-growing species which trails untidely across the ground.
White Cut-grass White Cut-grass White Cut-grass White Cut-grass
Habit
Flower spike
Flowers close-up
Stem node hairy

Slender Spike-grass      Chasmanthium laxum

A very common grass along woodland trails and other shady openings in forested areas. Flowers July to September. This species grows rather loosely and openly on the woodland floor, its long flowering stems arching over gracefully. Unfortunately, its flower stems appear to be much favored by ticks waiting to hitch a ride on a passing mammal!
Slender Spike-grass Slender Spike-grass Slender Spike-grass Slender Spike-grass
Habit
Flower close-up
Seed heads
Leaf ligule

Japanese Stilt-grass      Microstegium vimineum

A highly invasive Asian species which was misguidedly introduced into Tennessee around 1919 and now covers large areas of shady woodland in the south-eastern states. It is a relative newcomer to Cape May County but is likely to become a major conservation issue. Currently known from several sites in Belleplain. Flowers September to October. A low-growing species with bamboo-like leaves which have a distinctive, broad silver stripe down the middle. Trailing stems send out stiff shoots which push into the ground and root - the 'stilts' of the English name.
Japanese Stilt-grass Japanese Stilt-grass Japanese Stilt-grass Japanese Stilt-grass
Habit
Flower close-up
Leaves
Leaf ligule

Wavy Hair-grass      Deschampsia flexuosa

Local, but often forms quite large colonies of tussocks in open woodland, usually on paths and trails on dry, acid soils. Flowers May to June. A tussock-forming species with very fine, hair-like leaves. Flowers are carried on slender stems which blow in the breeze and give the species its English name. They are often pinkish-tinged.
Wavy Hair-grass Wavy Hair-grass Wavy Hair-grass Wavy Hair-grass
Habit
Early flower spike
Mature flower spikes
Flower spikelets

Wavy Hair-grass
Leaf ligule

Upland Bent      Agrostis perennans

A common grass of open places in woodland, especially along sandy trails. Flowers July to September. Forms open clumps of light, whispy flower heads.
Upland Bent Upland Bent Upland Bent Upland Bent
Habit
Flowering spike
Flowers close-up
Leaf ligule

Prairie Wedgescale      Sphenopholis obtusata

(Early Bunch-grass) An uncommon grass of woodland edge, hedgerows and occasionally wetland edge. Flowers June to July. A small and easily overlooked species, with a narrow flower spike and broadly 'winged' florets.
Prairie Wedgescale Prairie Wedgescale Prairie Wedgescale
Habit
Florets
Leaf ligule