img

Aira caryophyllea

L. (1753)

This name is accepted

Kingdom: Viridiplantae Phylum: Magnoliophyta Class/Clade: Monocots Order: Poales Family: Poaceae Genus: Aira

silver hairgrass

img

Description

Key Characters:

Growth Form: Annuals.

Stems: Culms (stems) solitary or few, sometimes numerous, forming large perennial clumps resulting from reseeding, 3–40 cm tall.

Roots: Fibrous root system.

Leaves: Leaves simple. Alternate, distichous. Blades filiform or subsetaceous, usually 1–5 cm long, up to 1 mm wide. Apex acute to subobtuse. Upper surfaces scabrid. Margins entire. Veins parallel. Sheaths scabrid or glabrous, open to base; ligule membranous, triangular, 4–5 mm long, apex entire but becoming lacerate. Stipules absent.

Flowers: Flowers in inflorescences paniculate, loose, ovate to oblong, 1–12 cm long, the branches bare at base. Spikelets 2, ca. 3 mm long, clustered toward tips of capillary branches, pedicels 0.7–3.5 times as long as the spikelet and pear–shaped at apex; glumes pale brown, chartaceous, ovate, 2.3–3.5 mm long, enclosing the florets, nerves +/- prominent, surface lustrous, glabrous except sparsely scabrous along keel, apex acute, slightly erose; lemmas dark reddish brown, narrowly ovate, 2–2.5 mm long, short–scabrous, apex acuminate, 2-lobed, apical teeth setaceous, awn 3–4 mm long, slightly geniculate, inserted below midpoint on dorsal face, rarely absent, callus minutely bearded at lateral margins of floret; palea similar in color, vestiture, and texture to lemma, 1.5–2 mm long, apex acuminate, somewhat adnate to caryopsis. Stamens 3. Ovary superior.

Fruit: Caryopsis 1–1.5 mm long; ca. 0.5 mm in diameter; weakly adnate to lemma and palea and remaining enclosed within them.

Ploidy: 2n = 14; 28

Habitat: Naturalized in pastures and on lava; often near moist areas; and in subalpine shrubland.

Elevation Range: 1,050–2,440 m.

Historical Distribution

Images

img

Synonyms (63)

Agrostis caryophyllea (L.) Salisb. (1796)
Aira armoricana F.Albers (1979)
Aira bachitii Hochst. ex C.E.Hubb. (1937)
Aira baetica Trin. (1836)
Aira canescens Host (1809)
Aira caryophyllea f. pallescens Neuman (1894)
Aira caryophyllea subsp. anceps (Ces., Pass. & Gibelli) Arcang. (1882)
Aira caryophyllea subsp. armoricana (F.Albers) Kerguélen (1983)
Aira caryophyllea subsp. patulipes (Jord. ex Boreau) K.Richt. (1890)
Aira caryophyllea subsp. reverchonii (Murb.) Maire (1942)
Aira caryophyllea var. anceps Ces., Pass. & Gibelli (1867)
Aira caryophyllea var. biaristata (Emb. & Maire) Maire (1942)
Aira caryophyllea var. caryophyllea
Aira caryophyllea var. curta (Jord. ex Boreau) Gaut. (1912)
Aira caryophyllea var. divaricata (F.W.Schultz) Husn. (1897)
Aira caryophyllea var. divergens N.H.F.Desp. (1838)
Aira caryophyllea var. expansa K.Koch (1848)
Aira caryophyllea var. hostii (Steud.) Rouy (1913)
Aira caryophyllea var. latigluma (Steud.) C.E.Hubb. (1937)
Aira caryophyllea var. minor Pauquy (1831)
Aira caryophyllea var. patulipes Legrand (1873)
Aira caryophyllea var. reverchonii (Murb.) Maire (1953)
Aira caryophyllea var. saxatilis Trin. (1830)
Aira caryophyllea var. suzana Podp. (1926)
Aira curta Jord. ex Boreau (1857)
Aira duriuscula Poir. (1811)
Aira edouardii Reut. ex Jouve (1865)
Aira fioriana Sennen (1936)
Aira hostii Steud. (1854)
Aira latigluma Steud. (1854)
Aira leersii Kunth (1833)
Aira lensii Rchb. (1831)
Aira lenzei Loisel. ex Godr. (1856)
Aira mucronulata Sennen (1933)
Aira multicaulis Kunth (1833)
Aira nana Steud. (1840)
Aira nebrodensis Lojac. (1909)
Aira patulipes Jord. ex Boreau (1857)
Aira praecox var. caryophyllea (L.) Royer (1881)
Aira pulchella f. brachyanthera Maire (1935)
Aira pulchella var. biaristata Emb. & Maire (1931)
Aira purpureoargentea Gilib. (1792)
Aira reverchonii Murb. (1922)
Aira rigida Dulac (1867)
Aira saburralis Jan ex Guss. (1843)
Aira tenera Kit. ex Schult. (1814)
Aira tenera var. biaristata (Emb. & Maire) Emb. & Maire (1941)
Aira tenera var. brachyanthera Emb. & Maire (1941)
Aira tenorei var. biaristata (Emb. & Maire) Emb. & Maire (1941)
Aira todaroi Ten. ex Tod. (1859)
Aira truncata Salzm. ex Trin. (1830)
Aira uniaristata var. biaristata (Emb. & Maire) Lambinon (1998)
Airella caryophyllea (L.) Dumort. (1868)
Airopsis caryophyllea (L.) Fr. (1843)
Aspris caryophyllea (L.) Nash (1913)
Avena caryophyllea (L.) Weber (1780)
Avena caryophyllea var. divaricata F.W.Schultz (1852)
Avena multiculmis Dumort. (1824)
Avenastrum caryophylleum (L.) Jess. (1863)
Caryophyllea airoides Opiz (1852)
Deschampsia baetica (Trin.) Willk. & Lange (1861)
Fussia caryophyllea (L.) Schur (1866)
Salmasia vulgaris Bubani (1901)

Uses and Culture

USES

Natural History

Statewide Status

Naturalized

Island Status

Kaua'i Only found in cultivation
O'ahu Only found in cultivation
Molokai Naturalized
Lana'i Naturalized
Maui Naturalized
Hawai'i Naturalized

Dispersal Agents


Pollinators

Bibliography

Name Published In: Sp. Pl.: 66 (1753)

Other References

Wagner et al. 1990:1495 (Mo, M, H); Lorence & Flynn 1997:11 (K); Wood 2006:18 (O); Faccenda & Sprague 2024:145 (L)

Occurrences

SNo. Scientific Name Locality Habitat Basis of Record Description Recorded By Record Number Island Source Date
1 Aira caryophyllea Haleakala Along the start of the Halemanu Trail Preserved_Specimen Wilbur, R.L. 1022 Maui BISH 1948-07-05
2 Aira caryophyllea Maunakea Humuula Sheep Station, North Hilo Common in local patches Preserved_Specimen Hosaka, E.Y. 2335 Hawaii BISH 1938-06-13
3 Aira caryophyllea Honolulu Preserved_Specimen Lee, H.A. 274 Oahu BISH 1925-03-01
4 Aira caryophyllea W Maui, Hanaulaiki Preserved_Specimen Hobdy, R.W. 2391 Maui BISH 1985-05-01
5 Aira caryophyllea West Kaupo Gap, Haleakala National Park, near exclosure Preserved_Specimen Gagné, B.H. 3062 Maui BISH 1991-04-29
6 Aira caryophyllea Puukepili [probably Puu Ka Pele] Preserved_Specimen Munro, G.C. 374 Molokai BISH 1916-06-04
7 Aira caryophyllea Puukepili [probably Puu Ka Pele] Preserved_Specimen Munro, G.C. 549 Molokai BISH 1916-06-04
8 Aira caryophyllea Hawaii Volcanoes Natl. Park Drive up Mauna Loa Strip Rd. abt 3 mi from inter. with Kona-Hilo Hiway and 0.25 mi before Kipuka Ki; or about 1 mi past Kipuka Puaulu just after first sharp turn in road Metrosideros - native shrub - lichen community on aa lava Preserved_Specimen Grass about 7 inches tall Newell, C.L. 298 Hawaii BISH 1966-08-04
9 Aira caryophyllea Kilauea Crater Preserved_Specimen Meebold, A. Hawaii BISH 1932-05-01
10 Aira caryophyllea Hawaii Volcanoes Natl. Park Kipukapuaulu Bird Park Moderate forest Preserved_Specimen Morley, H. 106 Hawaii BISH 1933-11-05
11 Aira caryophyllea Haleakala NW outer slope of Haleakala, near entrance to Haleakala Nat;l. Park Along trail in heath scrub, with Styphelia, Vaccinium reticulatum, Coprosma etc. Preserved_Specimen Henrickson, J.S. 3837 Maui BISH 1969-07-12
12 Aira caryophyllea Kamakou Preserve, Kawela Section, Upper Onini Gulch Growing on upper edge of south side of gulch in native scrub of `a`ali`i, pukiawe, na`ena`e, and `ohi`a. Preserved_Specimen Slender bunchgrass about 1' tall. Culms reddish. Cuddihy, L.W. 1214 Molokai BISH 1982-05-28
13 Aira caryophyllea Hawaii Volcanos National Park, Bird Park (Kipuka Puaulu), picnic grounds, near shelter Preserved_Specimen Herbst, D.R. 385 Hawaii BISH 1967-03-28
14 Aira caryophyllea Hanalei Dist.; Kokee State Park, Puu O Kila lookout along path just below viewing area Secondary vegetation of small herbs & grasses, i.e., Hypochoeris, Poa annua, Veronica & Epilobium. Preserved_Specimen Leaves dark green; infl. pale whitish-green w/pink colored branches; florets a clear silvery color. Locally common. Flynn, T.W. 5843 Kauai BISH 1995-09-15
15 Aira caryophyllea Hamakua Waimea, Puukapu, Makahalau Paddock Occasional Preserved_Specimen Hosaka, E.Y. 2156 Hawaii BISH 1938-06-02
16 Aira caryophyllea Hawaii Volcanoes Natl. Park Drive down Crater Rim Road about 1.3 miles to place where road starts to turn SE. On high pahoehoe roadbank at right of road is a large stone marker located about 200 m from roadside Metrosideros - native shrub - scattered lichen community on ash-covered pahoehoe lava. Preserved_Specimen Grass about 1 foot tall Newell, C.L. 444 Hawaii BISH 1966-08-19
17 Aira caryophyllea Mauna Loa Near beginning of Mauna Loa Trail to Puu Ulaula Rest House Growing on moist, shaded bank Preserved_Specimen Herbst, D.R. 253 Hawaii BISH 1966-08-14
18 Aira caryophyllea Lanaihale, radio infrastructure. From gravel in sunny, moist area under antenna. Seen only from gravel in this area. Preserved_Specimen Rare, about 10 plants seen, Faccenda, K. 3211 Lanai BISH 2023-06-23
19 Aira caryophyllea East Maui, West Kaupo above RAWS weather station. Preserved_Specimen Common name: silver hairgrass Welton, P. 1600 Maui BISH 1992-05-27
Back to Top