Agrostis vinealis Schreb. (Poaceae) is a somewhat
poorly known species. Its total distribution and extent of intraspecific
variability require further clarification though the species (as A. stricta)
has been treated adequately in Widén, K.-G. 1971: The genus Agrostis L. in eastern Fennoscandia.
Taxonomy and distribution.
– Flora Fennica
5: 1-209. A showy morph with yellowish panicle, also mentioned by Widén,
has once been found by me in Lohja. Most probably it represents a minor mutation
without essential taxonomical relevance.
In some southern Finnish localities (Lohja, Vihti, Kauniainen,
Vantaa) I have observed another morph which might be
taxonomically more interesting. As compared with A. vinealis (as it
occurs in the rock outcrops of southern Finland), the deviating morph is
somewhat smaller in all parts, the subterranean stolons are shorter and thinner,
the stems and leaves are less stiff, the leaf sheaths are usually retrorsely
aculeolate and hence slightly rough, the veins of the upper side of the leaves
are fewer and hence the lamina hardly gets inrolled in drying, the upper leaf
surface is often short
hairy, and the inflorescence always lacks anthocyanin colour. The anthers are
usually dehiscing with seemingly good pollen. Sometimes the plant reminds of the closely related species A. canina. In the siliceous rock outcrops,
this deviating morph plant occurs in a certain microhabitat: the lower terraces,
shelves and basal parts of steep walls. These habitats are more or less shady
because of surrounding woods. Typical A. vinealis favours more or less
open, sunny and windy rock surfaces.
The habitat requirements of typical A. vinealis and
this deviating morph appear different to such a degree that I have not seen them
growing side by side. It remains to be studied whether these deviating plants
represent an independent taxon or solely represent modifications adapted to the
more shady habitat
Created August 29, 2004.