About Danthonia decumbens (L.) DC.
Danthonia decumbens (L.) DC. is a perennial bunchgrass with a decumbent growth habit, meaning it lies along the ground with its stem tips turned upward. It produces narrow, bright green leaves that taper to a sharp point and are covered in noticeable hairs. A long upper leaf sheath wraps around the plant’s delicate stem. The stem reaches 15 to 30 centimeters (5.9 to 11.8 inches) in height, is slightly bent at its base, is smooth in texture, and bears 1 to 3 nodes. Its ligule is made up of a ring of hairs, similar to the ligule of purple moor grass (Molinia caerulea), but differs by having a tuft of longer hairs at each end of the ring. Its panicle holds 4 or 5 large, erect, glaucous spikelets that are colored silvery green or purplish, and do not have awns. These spikelets are arranged alternately along the upper portion of the stem. This bunchgrass blooms during the summer months. In terms of ecology, Danthonia decumbens grows in acid pastures and heathland, on sandy or peat soils that are most often damp. This grass has no domestic forage value and is not grown for agricultural purposes.
