Photo © Carl Farmer |
Abundant on wet acid moorland Stems c 10-25 cm tall. Spikelet c 3-6 mm long ID: Stem has one leaf only, short and near the base, arising as an outgrowth of the topmost basal sheath. Spikelets solitary at tip of stem, without a green leaf-like bract (though lowest glume may appear leaf-like at tip). To distinguish from the rare T cespitosum, the topmost leaf-sheath has an opening about twice as long as broad when you pull the stem out of it. Fertility (anthers that open and give pollen; fruit that ripens into a brown nut) will rule out the T germanicum x cespitosum hybrid. Other features: Tufted. Blankets areas of ground turning them a beautiful gold colour in autumn. 6-18 flowers per spikelet. Each fruit surrounded by up to 6 bristles which project slightly beyond it looking like curly hairs. |
