Identify100 Species – Grasses, Rushes, Sedges
10 species you are likely to find in Leicestershire and Rutland
How easy is it to identify? Easy Care needed Target species
Grasses are flowering plants but rely on wind for pollination so don’t need colourful flowers to attract insects.
Grasses and their allies are the foundation of many ecosystems, providing food and cover for many animals. They
are most easily identified when in flower, when their unique and often beautiful structures become apparent.
When viewing online, simply click on the species name to find out more.
Cock’s-foot – Dactylis glomerata
ID: To 1m. Lumpy flowers with 1-2 stiff side branches. Forms tussocks of
rough grey-green leaves and flattened basal stems.
Similar species: None.
Where to look: Verges, rough grassland.
Recording: Photo required.
Reedmace – Typha latifolia
ID: Familiar ‘bulrush’ with dark brown seed heads which become fluffy as
the seeds mature. Strap-shaped leaves 8-20mm wide.
Similar species: Lesser Bulrush (leaves thinner 6-12mm).
Where to look: Ponds, canals, marshes.
Recording: Photo required.
Meadow Foxtail – Alopecurus pratense
ID: To 1m. Single flower spike per stem with green/purplish tints. Flowers
early.
Similar species: Timothy (‘horned’ spikelets + flowers later).
Where to look: Verges, rough grassland, meadows. Apr-June.
Recording: Photo required.
Other common Leicestershire xx to check out:
Soft Rush, Quaking Grass, Tufted Hair-grass, Lesser Bulrush, Rough Meadow-grass, Crested Dog’s-tail
Timothy – Phleum pratensis
ID: To 1m. Single flower spike per stem. Often longer than Meadow
Foxtail. Spikelets ‘horned’ (as shown).
Similar species:Meadow Foxtail (spikelets not ‘horned’).
Where to look: Verges, meadows. June-Aug.
Recording: Photo required.
To find out more about the 100 Species Challenge, how to submit records of your sightings and lots more
about the wildlife of Leicestershire and Rutland, visit www.naturespot.org.uk.
Pendulous Sedge – Carex pendula
ID: Large tussocks to 1.5m. Leaves have ‘w’ profile. Several drooping
flowers per stem.
Similar species: No other sedges are as large.
Where to look: Woodland. Shady, damp places. Has become increasingly
common.
Recording: Photo required.
Wall Barley – Hordeum murinum
ID: xx To 60cm. A common coloniser of road and pavement edges. Has long
spines (awns). June-July.
Similar species: Meadow Barley (shorter awns).
Where to look: Roadsides, waste ground.
Recording: Photo required.
Yorkshire Fog – Holcus lanatus
ID: To 60cm. Patch forming. Fluffy, pinkish flowers turning cream. Hairy
and soft to touch. May-July.
Similar species: Creeping Soft-grass (only hairy at leaf nodes)
Where to look: Verges, all types of grassland.
Recording: Photo required.
False Oat-grass – Arrhenatherum elatius
ID: To 1.5m. Flower head loosely spreading. Spikelets with small awns.
June-July.
Similar species: None.
Where to look: Perhaps the commonest grass on verges and in meadows,
particular if nutrient-rich.
Recording: Photo required.
Annual Meadow-grass – Poa annua
ID: Small – to 30cm. Branched, spreading flowerhead. Only 1-2 branches on
lowest whorl.
Similar species: Other Meadow-grasses are larger.
Where to look: Road and pavement edges. Can turn up anywhere!
Recording: Photo required.
Hard Rush – Juncus inflexus
ID: 60cm-1m. Dense tussock of grey-green stems which are solid and
ridged. Flowers from the stem.
Similar species: Soft Rush (greener with squishy, smooth stems).
Where to look: Very common on damp, boggy grassland.
Recording: Photo required.
If you need identification help, visit the NatureSpot species galleries or post an image on the NatureSpot forum.
