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Drooping Tor Grass

Brachypodium pinnatum

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.
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Plant Profile
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Distribution Map

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, 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, Velvet Bent, 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:

1 metre tall

Habitats:

Grassland, meadows, roadsides, sand dunes, scrub, seaside, wetland.

Flower:

Green, no petals

A tall, erect spike that consists of long, stalked spikelets. Short-awned. Similar in appearance to Tor Grass (Brachypodium rupestre) only Drooping Tor Grass has a slightly drooping flower spike. Drooping Tor Grass is also more downy and has a preference to grow in shady places.

Fruit:

The fruit is dry and one-seeded (caryopsis).

Leaves:

Yellowish-green leaves which are often inrolled. Often found in lime grassland.

Other Names:

Feather Brome, Heath False-brome, Soft Brome.

Frequency (UK):

Unusual

Tor Grass

Summary

Brachypodium pinnatum, also known as Feather Brome or Soft Brome, is a species of perennial grass in the genus Brachypodium. It is native to Europe and Asia and is commonly found in grasslands, meadows, and other open habitats. It forms dense clumps of narrow leaves and can grow to a height of up to 0.6-1 meter tall. The plant produces spikes of small, greenish-brown flowers in the summer.

Brachypodium pinnatum is known for its high adaptability and can be found in various habitats such as grasslands, meadows, wetlands, pastures and dunes. Due to its tolerance to grazing, it is a valuable forage grass for livestock and wildlife. It also has a rhizomatous root system which allows it to colonize and stabilize soils, making it useful for soil conservation and erosion control.

It is also considered as a weed in some areas and it is known for its rapid colonization and ability to outcompete native plant species, especially in areas with low plant biodiversity. Therefore, it should be carefully managed in some ecosystems.

Blog

Drooping Tor Grass, or Brachypodium pinnatum, is a native grass species found across much of Europe and parts of Asia. It is a relatively common species, often found in grasslands, meadows, and open woodland habitats. Despite its widespread distribution, however, it remains relatively unknown to most people. In this blog post, we will take a closer look at this fascinating species and explore some of its unique features.

Description and Appearance

Drooping Tor Grass is a perennial grass species that typically grows to a height of 30-90cm. The leaves are narrow and pointed, with a rough texture, and are arranged in a rosette at the base of the stem. The stem itself is slender and usually bent over at the top, giving the species its characteristic 'drooping' appearance. The inflorescence is a dense spike of flowers that can be up to 20cm long, with each spikelet containing several tiny flowers. The flowers are wind-pollinated and produce large quantities of seed.

Ecology and Habitat

Drooping Tor Grass is adapted to a range of soil types, from well-drained sandy soils to heavy clay soils. It is a fairly hardy species, able to tolerate both drought and flooding, and can grow in areas with low levels of nutrient availability. The species is found in a range of habitats, from lowland meadows to upland heaths and moorlands. It is particularly common on calcareous soils, where it can form dense stands.

Ecologically, Drooping Tor Grass plays an important role as a food source for a range of wildlife. The leaves and stems are eaten by a variety of herbivorous insects, while the seeds are eaten by birds such as linnets and yellowhammers. The dense stands of Drooping Tor Grass also provide shelter for a range of small mammals and ground-nesting birds.

Conservation Status

Despite its ecological importance, Drooping Tor Grass is not currently considered to be a threatened species. However, like many grassland species, it has suffered a decline in recent decades due to changes in land use and intensive agricultural practices. In some areas, it has also been affected by the spread of invasive non-native species such as Himalayan Balsam.

Uses and Cultivation

Drooping Tor Grass is not widely cultivated for its ornamental value, but it is occasionally used in wildflower meadows or as part of a mixed native grassland seed mix. The species is also used in some traditional medicines, particularly as a treatment for respiratory conditions such as asthma and bronchitis.

More Information about Drooping Tor Grass

Drooping Tor Grass may not be the most well-known species, but it is a fascinating and ecologically important grass that plays a vital role in a range of habitats across Europe and Asia. Its drooping habit and dense inflorescences make it a distinctive species, and its adaptability to a range of soil types and habitats make it an important component of many ecosystems. As we continue to face environmental challenges such as climate change and habitat loss, it is more important than ever that we value and protect species such as Drooping Tor Grass.

Drooping Tor Grass, like many other grass species, has some interesting adaptations that allow it to thrive in its environment. For example, its ability to tolerate both drought and flooding is due to its deep root system, which can reach down to access water even during dry periods. Additionally, the rough texture of its leaves may deter some herbivores from feeding on it, while the wind-pollinated flowers ensure that the species can reproduce even in areas with low levels of insect activity.

In addition to its ecological importance, Drooping Tor Grass also has some interesting cultural and historical connections. In traditional folklore, the species was believed to have medicinal properties, particularly as a treatment for digestive ailments. The grass was also used for thatching roofs and making baskets and other woven items. In some areas, the species is still harvested for these purposes today.

One interesting aspect of Drooping Tor Grass is its role in grassland management. In some areas, the species is considered an indicator of high-quality, species-rich grassland. This is because it typically thrives in areas with low levels of disturbance and nutrient availability, where other, less competitive species can also thrive. As a result, conservationists and land managers often use the presence or absence of Drooping Tor Grass as an indicator of the overall health and diversity of a grassland ecosystem.

However, in some areas, Drooping Tor Grass can become dominant and create a monoculture, particularly in areas where there is a lack of grazing or other forms of disturbance. In these situations, management techniques such as grazing or cutting may be used to promote a more diverse mix of grass species and prevent the spread of Drooping Tor Grass.

Overall, the ecology and management of Drooping Tor Grass is a complex and fascinating topic that highlights the intricate relationships between species and their environment. As we continue to learn more about this species and its interactions with other grassland species, we can better understand and protect these important ecosystems.

Facts about Drooping Tor Grass

Facts about Drooping Tor Grass (Brachypodium pinnatum):

It is a native grass species found across much of Europe and parts of Asia.
It typically grows to a height of 30-90cm and has narrow, pointed leaves and a slender, drooping stem.
The inflorescence is a dense spike of flowers that can be up to 20cm long.
It is adapted to a range of soil types and is able to tolerate both drought and flooding.
Drooping Tor Grass is an important food source for a range of wildlife, including herbivorous insects and birds such as linnets and yellowhammers.
It is occasionally used in wildflower meadows or as part of a mixed native grassland seed mix and is also used in traditional medicines.

Summary: Drooping Tor Grass, or Brachypodium pinnatum, is a native grass species found across much of Europe and parts of Asia. It is a hardy species that is able to tolerate a range of soil types and habitats, and plays an important role as a food source for a range of wildlife. While not widely cultivated for its ornamental value, it is occasionally used in wildflower meadows or as part of a mixed native grassland seed mix. Drooping Tor Grass is also used in some traditional medicines. Its ecology and management is a complex and fascinating topic that highlights the intricate relationships between species and their environment.

Video

Drooping Tor Grass filmed in Siccaridge Wood, Gloucestershire on the 27th June 2023.

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Reproduced by kind permission of the BSBI.

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Drooping Tor Grass

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