Downy Oat-grass - Avenula pubescens

This is very similar to Avenula pratensis (Meadow oat-grass) and sometimes found growing in similar places. The difference is that in Avenula pubescens the lower leaves and particularly the lower stem are distinctly hairy it also has an inflorescence that is broader and more branched with spikelets 10 to 15 mm long.

Helictochloa pratensis (Meadow Oat-grass); Arrhenatherum elatius (False Oat-grass)

Inflorescence a panicle with usually 2 or 3 florets per spikelet, bent awn arising dorsally from lower part of lemma, lower leaf-sheaths hairy.  Usually much smaller than false-oat-grass.

The County Recorder has asked for a specimen of this plant to be retained for verification

Grassland and meadows but avoiding strongly acid soils.

Flowers June and July.

Perennial.

Widespread and fairly frequent in Britain.

Occasional in Leicestershire and Rutland. In the 1979 Flora survey of Leicestershire it was found in 67 of the 617 tetrads.