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Loose silky-bent

Apera spica-venti

Auricles

Absent.

Leaf blade

Hairless, rough, narrow and pointed. Rolled.

Ligule

Long, rounded and ragged: 3-10 mm.

Description

Tall tufted or solitary annual grass 20-100 cm. Elegant oval to oblong panicle. Usually open and much-branched. Spikelets are single flowered, with short awns. Seeds are very small and lightweight and are usually shed before the crop matures.

Importance

Widespread and locally common on arable land, especially on sandy or light loam soils in the east and south of England. Can become a problem in continuous cereals. Rare in Wales and Scotland.