Agrostis pallens is a species of grass known by the common name seashore bentgrass.

Distribution

It is native to western North America from British Columbia to Montana to California, where it grows in many types of habitat, typically open meadows, woodlands, subalpine areas, and other dry habitats. The diploid number of the grass is either 42 or 56.

Description

Agrostis pallens is a perennial bunchgrass growing 10-70 cm tall. It is occasionally rhizomatous. The ligule is 1.5-3 mm long. The leaf blades are flat or inrolled, and 1.5-5 cm long and 1-6 mm wide. The lanceolate to somewhat ovate inflorescence is 5-20 cm long. The glumes are 2-3 mm long. The lemma is 1.5-2.5 mm long, occasionally with a straight awn measuring between 0.5-2.5 cm. The palea is either absent or vestigial. The anthers are 0.7-1.8 mm long. The grass blooms from April into May. The grass grows from 200-3500 m of elevation.