WildBristol.uk - Discovering Wildlife in Bristol

Scattered throughout the UK but only frequent in Southern England. Habitat includes: shady places which go from wet to dry e.g. woodland, ditches, waste places, upper flood plains. A large plant with very short rhizomes. Its leaves and shoots form large tufts or tussocks up to 70 cm across and stems reach 60 to 180 cm in height. Inflorescence has 1 or 2 male spikelets up to 10 cm long at the tip, and 4 or 5 female spikelets spread out lower down (up to 16 cm long). They are cylindrical and pendulous like catkins. Perennial.