Heath-grass
Danthonia decumbens
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.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Danthonia_decumbens
Taxonomy & Classification
Kingdom
Plantae
Phylum
Tracheophyta
Class
Liliopsida
Order
Poales
Family
Poaceae
Genus
Danthonia
Heath-grass belongs to the family Poaceae, order Poales, within the Liliopsida class.
Species Profile
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.
Key Facts
Habitat & Distribution
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.
Threats
IUCN Red List: Endangered
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.
Agricultural intensification and conversion of grasslands
Urban development and infrastructure expansion
Habitat fragmentation
Loss of traditional grazing management
Nitrogen deposition and soil enrichment
Community Sightings
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Sources & Attribution
How to Cite
IUCN: IUCN (2025). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2025-1. Available at: https://www.iucnredlist.org. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2025-1.RLTS
GBIF: GBIF.org (2025). GBIF Home Page. Available at: https://www.gbif.org
This page: SpeciesRadar (2025). Heath-grass (Danthonia decumbens). SpeciesRadar: Intelligence for Earth's Biodiversity. Available at: https://speciesradar.org/species/heath-grass