Agrostis exarata

{{short description|Species of grass}}

{{Speciesbox

|image = Agrostis exarata.jpg

|genus = Agrostis

|species = exarata

|authority = Trin.

|synonyms = Agrostis aenea
Agrostis alaskana
Agrostis ampla
Agrostis asperifolia
Agrostis longiligula
Agrostis melaleuca

| status = {{TNCStatus}} | status_system = TNC | status_ref = {{Cite web|date=2022-05-30 |url= https://explorer.natureserve.org/Taxon/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.140236|access-date=30 May 2022 |website=NatureServe Explorer Agrostis exarata|title = NatureServe Explorer - Agrostis exarata |publisher=NatureServe}}

}}

Agrostis exarata is a species of grass known by the common names spike bentgrass, spike bent,{{BSBI 2007 |accessdate=2014-10-17 }} Pacific bentgrass, and spike redtop. It is native to western North America from Texas{{cite web|url= http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=AGEX|title=Spike bentgrass|publisher= Plants Profile|work=USDA|accessdate=October 6, 2007}} to the Aleutian Islands.

Description

This is a common perennial grass reaching one to three feet in height with long, thin, flat leaves each with a ligule of {{convert|2|-|4|mm}}.

The tuft inflorescence may be up to {{convert|30|cm}} long and is usually dense with tiny spikelets.[http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/cgi-bin/get_JM_treatment.pl?8738,8766,8772 Jepson Manual Treatment] It reproduces mainly by seed, but it can also spread via rhizome. This bunchgrass occurs in many plant communities in varied climates. It is considered good forage for livestock.

References

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