Bristle grass, Spike trisetum
Trisetum spicatum

Family: Poaceae

What it is like

A grass. It keeps growing from year to year. It forms tufts. It grows 8-50 cm high. It has hairs. The leaf blades are 4-10 cm long by 1-4 mm wide. The flowers panicle is oval and dense but can be interrupted.

There are about 60 Trisetum species.

Where it is found

It is a temperate plant. It grows in alpine regions in the Northern Hemisphere. In Pakistan it grows between 3,000-6,000 m altitude. In China it grows in alpine meadows and glacial moraines between 1,900-5,600 m above sea level. The variety australiensis grows in the highlands in Tasmania. In Argentina it grows from sea level to 4,700 m above sea level.

Countries/locations it is found in

Afghanistan, Argentina Australia, Asia, Bhutan, Caucasus, Central America (country/location of origin), Central Asia, Chile, China, Dominican Republic, Europe, Falklands, Haiti, Himalayas, India, Iran, Japan, Kazakhstan, Korea, Kyrgyzstan, Korea, Lapland, Mexico (country/location of origin), Middle East, Mongolia, Nepal, North America, Pakistan, Russia, South America (country/location of origin), Taiwan, Tajikistan, Tasmania, Tibet, USA, Uzbekistan, West Indies (country/location of origin)

How it is used for food

Edible parts

Seeds

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Synonyms

Aira spicata Linn.; Aira subspicata Linn.; Avena subspicata Clairv.; Trisetum pubiflorum Hack.; Trisetum subspicatum (Linn.) P. Beauv.;