Crested hair grass, Shining spike-grass
Koeleria cristata

Family: Poaceae

What it is like

A densely tufted grass. It keeps growing from year to year. The stalks are slender and smooth. They grow up to 50 cm high. The leaves at the base are short and narrow. The flowers are in a spike like group and this is 4-5 cm long. The spikelets have 2-4 flowers. They are shiny and compressed. They are 4-5 mm long.

There are 25-35 Koeleria species. There is considerable confusion over the name.

Where it is found

It is a temperate plant. It grows in subalpine places on sandy soils in the Rocky Mountains in Canada.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Australia, India, North America, USA, Tasmania

How it is used for food

Edible parts

Seeds

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Synonyms

Koeleria cristata Pers. [Illegitimate];