The Flora of Castlewarden

  Latin:  Holcus lanatus This is a tufted grass that grows to a height of 30-70cm.  It is probably one of the most visually attractive grasses because of the bright pinkish-purple colouring of its stems and seed head. The leaves are a soft, pale, green and the lower leaf sheaths are often veined with reddish-purple.  Both the stems and the leaves are covered with soft, fine, downy hairs.  Panicle-type inflorescences (flowering heads) appear in June-July and are generally dense and whitish, pale green, pinkish or purple

Latin:  Anthoxanthum odoratus) The seed heads of Sweet Vernal tend to appear at about the same time of the year as those of Meadow Foxtail (late April – May). It is widely occurring species in old pastures and meadows but does not have any particular attraction for the farmer or the golf course manager. It does, however, have one remarkable attribute – it is, as its name implies, sweetly scented.  When plants are harvested and allowed to dry they emit a sweet scent due to a

Latin : Alopecurus pratensis   This is a tall (up to 100cm) perennial grass species that produces a soft, cylindrical, spike-like head in late April or early May.  It occurs throughout Ireland being most abundant in low-lying areas and especially in old grasslands on rich, moist soils.  It closely resembles Timothy (Phleum pratense) and the two species can only be distinguished on the basis of minor anatomical differences in the head.   Although it is not regarded as a valuable species in amenity grasslands such

Latin:  Agrostis stolonifera) Agrostis stolonifera is a native species that grows abundantly across Ireland in damp meadows, ditches and waste places.  It is an extremely variable species and can grow to heights ranging from 30 to 120cm, its leaf blades that vary in width from 1 to 3cm and it is highly variable in its adaptation to different climatic and management regimes. Slender, leafy stolons (runners) are produced from the base and these can root at intervals giving rise to a mat of clonal plants. 

Latin:  Agrostis gigantea   This is a native species that grows in tilled fields and waste areas.  It occurs primarily in the East of the country and is quite rare in the West.  It grows to about 1.0m tall and spreads by underground rhizomes.  Some plants begin to head (flower) in June but others flower during July and August.   The flowering head is a green to purplish, oblong to ovate, loose panicle that is usually very loose and much branched.   There are several

Latin:  Juncus effusus Irish:  Luachair   This species can be found around each of the lakes on the course, in the Builder’s Paddock and in some of the open drains around the periphery of the course. The Common Rush is a native perennial that normally is associated with wet soils, ditches, marshes, riverbanks and lakesides.  Its leaves are greatly reduced in size, often consisting of small sheaths around the base of the stems which grow in dense tufts. Small flowers are produced during the summer in small

Latin:  Agrostis capillaris   This is a native species that is a common constituent of dry pastures, heaths and mountain grassland especially on dry, acid soils. It has a rather confused nomenclature. The generic name is sometimes given as Agrostis tenuis and it is given the common name “Brown Top Bent” by some authorities. It is also known as “New Zealand” or “Colonial” bent. It may grow in tufts or it may spread by short rhizomes or stolons and its stems can reach a height of