Heath-grass
EN

Heath-grass

Danthonia decumbens

Unknown

Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Danthonia_decumbens

Overview

Danthonia decumbens is a species of grass commonly known as the heath grass, heath-grass, or staggers grass It is a tussock grass native to Europe and adjacent parts of Asia and North Africa. It may also be native to Newfoundland and Nova Scotia.

Heath-grass (Danthonia decumbens) is declining primarily due to habitat loss and degradation of its specialized grassland ecosystems. Agricultural intensification, urban development, and changes in traditional land management practices have significantly reduced the availability of suitable acidic grassland habitats.

Threat summary

Habitat

The plant is found on acid pastures and heathland, on sandy or peat soils, which are also often damp.

The grass, having no domestic forage value, is not grown agriculturally.

TERRESTRIAL· major

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Frequently asked questions

Why is Heath-grass classified as Endangered?
Heath-grass is classified as Endangered — facing a very high risk of extinction in the wild — because population numbers are declining steeply and key habitats are under sustained pressure. Heath-grass (Danthonia decumbens) is declining primarily due to habitat loss and degradation of its specialized grassland ecosystems. Agricultural intensification, urban development, and changes in traditional land management practices have significantly reduced the availability of suitable acidic grassland habitats.
Where does Heath-grass live?
Heath-grass occurs in across multiple regions. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Heath-grass?
The main threats to Heath-grass are ai-1, ai-2, ai-3, and ai-4. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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