This is a moorland grass which prefers acidic soils so it is present throughout Scotland, northern Ireland, Wales and northern England but scarce in central and parts of southern England where the limestone or chalk dominates. It is a distinctive grass which grows in tufts of spiky leaves and flower stems. The anthers always seem to be disproportionately large for the flowerhead.

LHS: Hobcarton Crags, Lake District 8th June 2004 RHS: Cwm Idwal, Wales 7th June 2005

Added on November 10th 2005, updated January 13th 2011, updated 15th June 2014