Creeping bent lives up to its common name: its stems run along the ground before growing upright. Found on grasslands, damp arable fields and waste ground, it flowers between June and August. It is thought that it hybridises with common bent and the resultant plant has developed a tolerance to heavy metal pollutants.
How to identify
Creeping bent has 'ligules' (membranous leaf sheaths) for leaves and tightly clustered, purplish spikelets (containing the flowers). The flower spike is less branched than in other forms of bent.
Did you know?
Cultivated forms of creeping bent are used for turf in golf courses and putting greens.
