black bent

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• black bent
• black bentgrass
• giant bentgrass
• redtop
• redtop bentgrass
• water bentgrass
• bonnet grass
• fiorin
• redtop bent

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Vilfa gigantea
• Agrostis stolonifera var. gigantea
• Agrostis signata var. gigantea
• Agrostis vinealis var. gigantea
• Agrostis alba subsp. gigantea
• Agrostis stolonifera subsp. gigantea

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. Within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae, it is classified under the order Poales and the family Poaceae. Finally, its specific taxonomic designation is within the genus Agrostis.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant, known as Agrostis gigantea, exhibits a specific geographical distribution across several regions of Northern Europe. Its presence can be documented within the coastal and temperate landscapes of Denmark. Furthermore, it is found extending into the northern territories of Finland. The species also occupies significant habitats throughout Great Britain and Ireland. Finally, its range reaches the rugged terrains of Norway.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Agrostis gigantea is characterized by a broad altitudinal distribution, spanning from sea level up to a maximum elevation of 3200 m AMSL. While its mean elevation is recorded at 0 m AMSL, the species demonstrates significant ecological plasticity, allowing it to occupy diverse environments ranging from lowland habitats to much higher mountainous elevations. This ability to thrive in both low-lying areas and high-altitude zones suggests a robust adaptability to varying atmospheric pressures and temperature gradients across its natural range.

Elevational range max:

3200 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

Lowland

Life history

The life history of Agrostis gigantea is characterized by a perennial lifecycle, allowing the plant to persist through multiple growing seasons. As a hemicryptophyte, its perennating buds are located at or just below the soil surface, protected by leaf litter or ground cover during unfavorable conditions. This species exhibits a deciduous nature, shedding its foliage in response to seasonal shifts.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Life form :

hemicryptophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Agrostis gigantea is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody, graminoid herb. It is a self-supporting plant that does not function as a climber or a parasite, maintaining an independent biological status. As a terrestrial species, it does not exhibit epiphytic or aquatic tendencies, growing instead in soil-based environments. In terms of stature, the plant typically reaches a minimum height of 0.4 m, with a mean height of approximately 0.83 m, and can attain a maximum height of up to 1.5 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

graminoid

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

1.5 m

Plant height mean:

0.828333333333333 m

Plant height min:

0.4 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Agrostis gigantea is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, indicating a reliance on standard carbon fixation processes common to many temperate grasses. As a non-carnivorous species, it derives all necessary nutrients from the soil rather than through the capture of prey. Its leaf morphology is highly specialized, exhibiting a narrow structure with a mean leaf width of 0.5 cm, a value that remains consistent across its minimum and maximum recorded widths. The leaves reach a maximum length of 10.5 cm, contributing to a mean leaf size of 3.045 cm². Furthermore, the plant demonstrates a mean Specific Leaf Area (SLA) of 227.84 cm²/g, a physiological metric that reflects the efficiency of its leaf mass distribution relative to its surface area for light interception and gas exchange.

Carnivory :

non-carnivorous

Leaf length max:

10.5 cm

Leaf size mean:

3.045 cm²

Leaf width mean:

0.5 cm

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:

227.84 cm²/g

Reproduction

The reproduction of Agrostis gigantea is characterized by a sexual process through bisexual flowers, with asexual reproduction being entirely absent. The flowering period typically begins in June and concludes in August. As an abiotic pollination specialist, the plant utilizes a wind-based pollination syndrome to facilitate fertilization, and the process of self-fertilization is noted as absent. The resulting fruit is classified as a dry nut that is indehiscent. The seeds produced are quite small, with a mean length of 1 mm, a mean width of 0.5 mm, and a mean volume of 0.065 mm³ (ranging from a minimum to a maximum of 0.065 mm³). The seed mass is also minimal, with a mean of approximately 8.317e-05 g, ranging from a minimum of 6e-05 g to a maximum of 9e-05 g. For dispersal, the plant employs an anemochorous syndrome, relying on the wind to transport its seeds.

Dehiscence :

indehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

anemochorous

Flowering time :

Jun

Flowering time :

Aug

Fruit dryness :

dry

Fruit type :

nut

Pollination syndrome :

wind

Pollination syndrome :

abiotic

Reproduction asexual :

absent

Reproduction sexual :

bisexual

Seed length mean:

1 mm

Seed mass max:

9e-05 g

Seed mass mean:

8.31666666666667e-05 g

Seed mass min:

6e-05 g

Seed volume max:

0.065 mm³

Seed width mean:

0.5 mm

Self fertilization :

absent

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Agrostis gigantea has 4 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Cirsilineol, CONIFERYL ALCOHOL, Luteolin 5-methyl ether, eugenol.

Cirsilineol

1. Iranian journal of pharmaceutical research : IJPR
2. Endocrine, metabolic & immune disorders drug targets

CONIFERYL ALCOHOL

1. Iranian journal of pharmaceutical research : IJPR

Luteolin 5-methyl ether

1. Iranian journal of pharmaceutical research : IJPR

eugenol

1. Iranian journal of pharmaceutical research : IJPR

Activities

Agrostis gigantea has 2 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antiproliferative, Gastroprotective.

Antiproliferative

1. Endocrine, metabolic & immune disorders drug targets

Gastroprotective

1. Endocrine, metabolic & immune disorders drug targets

Conditions

Agrostis gigantea has 5 reported investigations on conditions identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include allergic rhinitis, breast carcinoma, coronavirus, immune system, inflammation.

Allergic rhinitis

1. Endocrine, metabolic & immune disorders drug targets

Breast carcinoma

1. Endocrine, metabolic & immune disorders drug targets

Coronavirus

1. Endocrine, metabolic & immune disorders drug targets

Immune system

1. Endocrine, metabolic & immune disorders drug targets

Inflammation

1. Endocrine, metabolic & immune disorders drug targets