Agrostis exarata

Agrostis exarata is a species of grass known by the common names spike bentgrass,^[2] spike bent,^[3] Pacific bentgrass, and spike redtop. It is native to western North America from Texas^[2] to the Aleutian Islands.

Agrostis exarata
Conservation status
Secure  (NatureServe)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Monocots
Clade:	Commelinids
Order:	Poales
Family:	Poaceae
Subfamily:	Pooideae
Genus:	Agrostis
Species:	A. exarata
Binomial name
Agrostis exarata Trin.
Synonyms
Agrostis aenea Agrostis alaskana Agrostis ampla Agrostis asperifolia Agrostis longiligula Agrostis melaleuca

Description

This is a common perennial grass reaching one to three feet in height with long, thin, flat leaves each with a ligule of 2–4 millimetres (0.079–0.157 in).

The tuft inflorescence may be up to 30 centimetres (12 in) long and is usually dense with tiny spikelets.^[4] 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.