Molinia caerulea

Purple Moor Grass
Habitus
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Monocots
(unranked):	Commelinids
Order:	Poales
Family:	Poaceae
Genus:	Molinia
Species:	M. caerulea
Binomial name
Molinia caerulea (L.) Moench
Synonyms
Aira caerulea

Inflorescence

Purple Moor Grass (Molinia caerulea) is a grass native to Europe, west Asia, north Africa and the east of North America. It grows in locations from the lowlands up to 2300 m in the Alps. Like most grasses, it grows best in acid soils, ideally pH values of between 3.5 to 5, however, it can continue to live under more extreme conditions, sometimes to as low as 2.

It is a tussock forming perennial, growing up to 90cm tall. Due to the dense tussock it is very resistant to heath fires. It's ligule is a ring of hairs. The long narrow purple spikelets are a major identification feature.

If flowers August and September, later than any other species.

The caterpillars of some Lepidoptera use it as a foodplant, e.g. the Chequered Skipper (Carterocephalus palaemon).

Purple Moor and Rush Pastures is a UK Biodiversity Action Plan habitat, on account of its rarity.

Claviceps microcephala is an ascomycetous fungus which grows on the seeds of purple moor grass.

Ascocarp of Claviceps microcephala which grows on the seeds of purple moor grass.

References

• Food and agriculture organization of the United Nations page on purple moor grass.
• UK BAP Purple Moor and Rush Pastures
• Collins Pocket Guide Grasses Sedges Rushes and Ferns of Britain and Northern Europe, R Fitter, A Fitter, A Farrer