ILLINOIS PLANT INFORMATION NETWORK
 
 ILPIN INFORMATION ON    Aira caryophyllaea
 
 
 CLASS:    MONOCOTYLEDENAE
 ORDER:    CYPERALES
 FAMILY:   POACEAE
 SCIENTIFIC NAME:  Aira caryophyllaea
 AUTHORITY:  L.
 
 COMMON NAMES:
    SILVER HAIRGRASS
    SLENDER HAIRGRASS
 
 SYNONOMY:   None
 
 PLANTS CODE: AICA
 
 NATURAL COMMUNITIES:
     PRAIRIE
       TYPICAL PRAIRIE
         DRY
     CULTURAL
 
 
 SAF FOREST COVER TYPE:
     NO
 
 NATURAL DIVISION:  UNAVAILABLE
 
 COUNTIES:
   PIATT           POPE
 
 GROWTH FORM:  Monocot
 
 TAXONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS:
    ROOTS:  Adventitious   (fibrous)
    LEAF ARRANGEMENT:   Alternate
    LEAF TYPE:   Simple
    LEAF MARGIN:   Entire
    LEAF VENATION:  Parallel
    LEAF SHAPE:     Linear
    INFLORESCENCE:   Panicle
    FLOWER MEROUS:  3
    FLOWER STRUCTURE:   Complete
    FLOWER PLACEMENT:  Hypogynous
    FRUIT:   Grain
 
 DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTIC COMMENTS:
     This is the only species of this genus in Illinois. From
     other genera - filiform leaves, fimbriate ligule, spikelets
     2-flowered, very delicate, slender plants, with open panicles.
 
 GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION:
     ORIGIN:   Introduced-  Europe
 
 GEOGRAPHIC COMMENTS:
     Species is known only from Piatt county, Allerton Park in Illinois.
     Generally, it is adventive throughout U.S.
 
 POPULATION DYNAMICS:
     STATE STATUS: Not listed
     FEDERAL STATUS: Not listed
     COMMONNESS:  Rare
     ENDEMIC:   NOT-ENDEMIC
 
 BIOLOGIC:
     HABIT:   Grasslike
     LIFE CYCLE:   Annual
     FLOWERING PERIOD:
         MONTH BEGINNING-      5         MONTH END-      7
     TROPHIC STATUS:  Autotrophic
     SEX:      Perfect
 
 ECODISTRIBUTION COMMENTS:
     Species is distributed on waste ground, sandy soil, open dry ground.
 
 ENVIRONMENTAL RELATIONSHIPS:   No data entered
 
 FUNCTIONAL RELATIONSHIPS:    No data entered
 HUMAN RELATIONSHIP DATA:    No data entered
 
 WILDLIFE AND LIVESTOCK INFORMATION:   No data entered
 
 REVEGETATION PLANTINGS:    No data entered
 
 
 REFERENCES:
Swink, F., and G. S. Wilhelm.  1979.  Plants of the Chicago region.  Third ed.
     The Morton Arboretum, Lisle, Illinois.  922 pp.
Mohlenbrock, R. H.  1967-continuing.  The illustrated flora of Illinois.
     Southern Illinois University Press, Carbondale.
 
 OTHER REFERENCES:
     Hitchcock, A.S. 1980. A Manual of the Grasses of the United States.
          United States Government Printing Office. Washington, D.C.
          1051 pp.
 
 END OF DATA FOR SPECIES  Aira caryophyllaea
 
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 ILPIN was developed by Louis Iverson*, with data compiled by David Ketzner and Jeanne Karnes
 Illinois Natural History Survey, 607 E. Peabody Dr., Champaign, IL 61820
     *currently employed by USDA Forest Service, 359 Main Rd., Delaware, OH 43015