Silvery hair grass
Aira caryophyllea
Synonyms: Aira tenera, Aira baetica, Aira caryophyllea var. major, Aira tenera var. brachyanthera, Aira curta, Aira caryophyllea var. anceps, Aira multicaulis, Aira saburralis, Aira nebrodensis, Aira aggregata, Salmasia vulgaris, Aira caryophyllea var. patulipes, Aira praecox var. multiculmis, Aira caryophyllea var. latigluma, Avena multiculmis, Aira lenzei, Aira caryophyllea subsp. anceps, Aira patulipes, Aira todaroi, Aira aggregata var. sabulosa, Aira purpureoargentea, Avena caryophyllea var. multiculmis, Aira bachitii, Salmasia multiculmis, Aira caryophyllea var. magna, Aira caryophyllea f. pallescens, Aira pulchella var. biaristata, Aira mucronulata, Aira hostii, Aira multiculmis var. expansa, Airopsis caryophyllea, Aira caryophyllea var. aggregata, Aira edouardii, Aira plesiantha, Aira rigida, Aira caryophyllea var. biaristata, Aira fioriana, Agrostis caryophyllea, Avena caryophyllea var. elatior, Avena caryophyllea var. divaricata, Aira caryophyllea var. minor, Aira caryophyllea var. suzana, Aira multiculmis, Aira latigluma, Avena caryophyllea subsp. multiculmis, Aira leersii, Caryophyllea airoides, Aira lensii, Aira tenera var. biaristata, Deschampsia baetica, Aira caryophyllea var. maior, Aira caryophyllea var. reverchonii, Aira caryophyllea var. divergens, Aira caryophyllea var. hostii, Aira armoricana, Airella caryophyllea, Aira caryophyllea var. minima, Aira caryophyllea var. multiculmis, Aira caryophyllea var. expansa, Aira caryophyllea subsp. patulipes, Aira tenorei var. biaristata, Aspris caryophyllea, Aira caryophyllea subsp. plesiantha, Aira caryophyllea var. curta, Aira caryophyllea subsp. multiculmis, Aira caryophyllea subsp. armoricana, Aira pulchella f. brachyanthera, Fussia caryophyllea, Aira uniaristata var. biaristata, Aira praecox var. caryophyllea, Aira nana, Avena caryophyllea var. aggregata, Avenastrum caryophylleum, Aira caryophyllea subsp. reverchonii, Aira duriuscula, Aira reverchonii, Aira caryophyllea var. saxatilis
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Botanical Description
Aira caryophyllea (silvery hair grass) is a delicate annual bunchgrass of the family Poaceae growing in small dense tufts 5–30 cm tall on very slender, hair-like, erect culms. The few short, fine, light green leaf blades are bristle-like, narrowly involute, and 1–3 cm long with a long pointed membranous ligule. The flowering culms terminate in an open, airy, spreading panicle 2–8 cm long whose finely capillary branches diverge widely in pairs or whorls and bear small two-flowered silvery-shining spikelets at their tips; the smooth glumes are about 2–3 mm long and conspicuously silvery to whitish with delicate iridescent reflections, while the lemmas each carry a fine bent awn arising from below their middle. As the plant matures it dries to straw-coloured or whitish. Native to dry, sandy, gravelly, or stony open ground across most of Europe, North Africa, and western and central Asia, silvery hair grass is widely naturalised in North America, Australasia, and elsewhere as a weed of disturbed ground, heathland, sandy roadsides, sea cliffs, and open pine woodland on acid soils.
Cultural & Historical Context
Traditional American Uses
None Documented
Chemistry & External Identifiers
Important Disclaimer
This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace professional medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before using any herbal remedy, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, or taking medications.