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Velvet Bent

Agrostis canina

Please keep in mind that it is illegal to uproot a plant without the landowner's consent and care should be taken at all times not to damage wild plants. Wild plants should never be picked for pleasure and some plants are protected by law.
For more information please download the BSBI Code of Conduct PDF document.

Contents

Plant Profile

Flowering Months:
JAN  FEB  MAR  APR  MAY  JUN  JUL  AUG  SEP  OCT  NOV  DEC
Order:
Poales
Family:
Poaceae (Grass)
Also in this family:
Alpine Catstail, Alpine Foxtail, Alpine Meadow-grass, Annual Beard-grass, Annual Meadow-grass, Arrow Bamboo, Barren Brome Grass, Bearded Couch Grass, Bearded Fescue, Bermuda Grass, Black Bent, Black Grass, Blue Fescue, Blue Moor-grass, Bog Hair-grass, Borrer's Saltmarsh Grass, Bread Wheat, Bristle Bent, Brown Bent, Brown Sedge, Bulbous Foxtail, Bulbous Meadow-grass, California Brome Grass, Canary Grass, Carnation Sedge, Cocksfoot, Cockspur, Common Bent, Common Cord-grass, Common Millet, Common Reed, Common Saltmarsh Grass, Compact Brome Grass, Corn, Couch Grass, Creeping Bent, Creeping Soft-grass, Crested Dog's-tail, Crested Hair-grass, Cultivated Oat, Curved Hard Grass, Cut Grass, Dense Silky Bent, Downy Oat-grass, Drooping Brome Grass, Drooping Tor Grass, Dune Fescue, Early Hair-grass, Early Meadow-grass, Early Sand-grass, False Brome Grass, False Oat-grass, Fern Grass, Fine-leaved Sheep's Fescue, Flattened Meadow-grass, Floating Sweet-grass, Foxtail Barley, French Oat, Giant Fescue, Glaucous Meadow-grass, Great Brome Grass, Greater Quaking Grass, Grey Hair-grass, Hairy Brome Grass, Hairy Finger-grass, Hard Fescue, Hard Grass, Harestail Grass, Heath Grass, Holy Grass, Hybrid Marram Grass, Italian Rye Grass, Knotroot Bristlegrass, Lesser Hairy Brome Grass, Lesser Quaking Grass, Loose Silky Bent, Lyme Grass, Marram Grass, Marsh Foxtail, Mat Grass, Mat-grass Fescue, Meadow Barley, Meadow Fescue, Meadow Foxtail, Meadow Oat-grass, Mountain Melick, Narrow-leaved Meadow-grass, Narrow-leaved Small-reed, Neglected Couch Grass, Nit Grass, Orange Foxtail, Pampas Grass, Perennial Rye Grass, Plicate Sweet-grass, Purple Moor-grass, Purple Small-reed, Purple-stem Catstail, Quaking Grass, Ratstail Fescue, Red Fescue, Reed Canary Grass, Reed Sweet-grass, Reflexed Saltmarsh Grass, Rescue Grass, Rough Meadow-grass, Rush-leaved Fescue, Sand Catstail, Sand Couch Grass, Scandinavian Small-reed, Scottish Small-reed, Sea Barley, Sea Couch Grass, Sea Fern Grass, Sheep's Fescue, Silver Hair-grass, Six-rowed Barley, Slender Brome Grass, Small Cord-grass, Small Sweet-grass, Smaller Catstail, Smooth Brome Grass, Smooth Cord-grass, Smooth Finger-grass, Smooth Meadow-grass, Soft Brome Grass, Somerset Hair-grass, Sorghum, Spreading Meadow-grass, Squirreltail Fescue, Stiff Brome Grass, Stiff Saltmarsh Grass, Sweet Vernal Grass, Tall Fescue, Timothy Grass, Tor Grass, Tufted Hair-grass, Two-rowed Barley, Upright Brome Grass, Viviparous Fescue, Wall Barley, Wavy Hair-grass, Wavy Meadow-grass, Whorl Grass, Wild Oat, Wood Barley, Wood Fescue, Wood Meadow-grass, Wood Melick, Wood Millet, Yellow Oat-grass, Yorkshire Fog
Type:
Flower
Life Cycle:
Perennial
Maximum Size:
70 centimetres tall
Habitats:
Bogs, fens, grassland, heathland, marshes, meadows, waterside.

Flower:
֍
Purple, no petals
 
Purplish spikelets and awned florets. Spikelets measure between 2 and 2.5mm in length.
Fruit:
The fruit is a caryopsis. A type of dry, one-seeded fruit.
Leaves:
The leaves are very narrow. They each have a jagged, long, pointed ligule.
Other Names:
Brown Bent, Brown Bentgrass, Dog Bentgrass, Velvety Bentgrass.
Frequency (UK):
Common  

Similar Species

Brown Bent

Other Information

Summary

Agrostis canina, also known as brown bentgrass or dog bentgrass, is a species of grass in the family Poaceae. It is native to Europe and Asia, but has been introduced to other parts of the world as a turfgrass. The grass has slender stems with small, green leaves and produces small, inconspicuous flowers. Brown bentgrass is commonly used on golf courses and in other turf applications, and its forage is used as livestock feed. There is not much information available about the potential medicinal use of Agrostis canina.

Blog

Velvet Bent, or Agrostis canina, is a grass species commonly found in meadows, pastures, and coastal regions throughout Europe, Asia, and North America. It is a valuable species in the grass family, known for its soft, velvety texture and its ability to withstand tough environmental conditions.

One of the key features of Velvet Bent is its soft, dense foliage, which provides a luxurious look and feel. This quality makes it a popular choice for landscaping, as well as for use in golf courses, parks, and other public spaces. The foliage is a bright green color, and it is capable of growing to a height of up to 60 cm.

Another benefit of Velvet Bent is its versatility. It is capable of growing in a wide range of soil types and environmental conditions, including acidic, alkaline, and saline soils. This means that it can be grown in a variety of locations, from coastal regions to inland areas. Additionally, it is drought-tolerant, making it an ideal choice for areas with low rainfall.

In addition to its aesthetic and environmental benefits, Velvet Bent is also a valuable food source for a variety of animals, including livestock, game birds, and wildlife. The seeds and foliage are highly nutritious, and the grass is a valuable forage crop for livestock.

Despite its many benefits, Velvet Bent is not without its challenges. Like many grass species, it is susceptible to disease and pests, and it can be difficult to manage if it is not properly maintained. Additionally, its dense growth habit can make it difficult to control in areas where it is not wanted.

Overall, Velvet Bent is a valuable species with a range of benefits, making it a popular choice for landscaping, agriculture, and wildlife management. Whether you are looking to add a touch of luxury to your yard, provide food for livestock, or create a habitat for wildlife, Velvet Bent is a versatile and valuable species to consider.

Velvet Bent is also valued for its ability to support biodiversity. As a native species, it provides a habitat and food source for many species of insects, birds, and other wildlife. In addition, its dense growth habit helps to prevent soil erosion and can be used to stabilize banks and slopes. This helps to conserve soil and protect against the impact of heavy rainfall, making it a valuable species for land management and conservation efforts.

Another important aspect of Velvet Bent is its value as a forage crop for livestock. The species is rich in protein, making it a valuable feed for cattle, sheep, and other animals. The soft, velvety texture of the foliage also makes it a popular choice for bedding, providing a comfortable and dry environment for livestock to sleep in.

In addition to its benefits for the environment and livestock, Velvet Bent also has a number of other uses. The foliage can be used as a green manure, adding nutrients to the soil and improving soil structure. The seeds can also be harvested and used as birdseed, providing a valuable food source for birds in the winter months.

Despite its many benefits, Velvet Bent is not without its challenges. Like many grass species, it is susceptible to disease and pests, and it can be difficult to manage if it is not properly maintained. Additionally, its dense growth habit can make it difficult to control in areas where it is not wanted.

It is also worth mentioning that Velvet Bent is a low maintenance species, requiring little in terms of fertilization and pest control. This makes it an ideal choice for those looking for an easy-to-care-for plant that can provide many benefits with minimal effort.

In addition, Velvet Bent is a fast-growing species, making it an ideal choice for those looking for quick results. Whether you are planting a new meadow or filling in a bare spot in your yard, Velvet Bent can provide quick and lush growth in a short amount of time.

Finally, it is important to note that Velvet Bent is a hardy species, capable of surviving harsh environmental conditions, including hot summers, cold winters, and extreme weather events. This makes it an ideal choice for those looking for a resilient species that can withstand tough conditions and provide a long-lasting impact.

In conclusion, Velvet Bent is a versatile and valuable species with a range of benefits for the environment, wildlife, agriculture, and landscaping. With its soft, velvety texture, fast growth rate, and low maintenance requirements, it is a species that is well worth considering for any number of applications.

Distribution Map

Reproduced by kind permission of the BSBI.

Click to open an Interactive Map