vs Common Silver Hairgrass

Asperococcus ensiformis compared with Aira caryophyllea

Key Differences

is Data Deficient while Common Silver Hairgrass is Endangered.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank		Common Silver Hairgrass
Kingdom	Chromista (Chromista)	Plantae (Plants)
Phylum	Ochrophyta (Ochrophyta)	Magnoliophyta (Flowering Plants)
Class	Phaeophyceae (Phaeophyceae)	Liliopsida (Monocots)
Order	Ectocarpales (Ectocarpales)	Poales (Grasses)
Family	Chordariaceae	Poaceae (Grass Family)
Genus	Asperococcus	Aira
Species	Asperococcus ensiformis	Aira caryophyllea

Conservation Status

DD — Data Deficient

Common Silver Hairgrass

EN — Endangered

Physical Characteristics

Attribute		Common Silver Hairgrass
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Habitat

Found across multiple habitat types including temperate broadleaf and mixed forests, tundra, and tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests spanning the Australasia and Oceanian realms.

Range

Distributed across Denmark, New Zealand, and Norway.

Common Silver Hairgrass

Habitat

Found across multiple habitat types including tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests, tropical and subtropical grasslands and savannas, and flooded grasslands and savannas, among 11 distinct biome types. Populations are also found in montane and highland environments at higher elevations.

Range

Widely distributed across Africa (Cameroon), Asia (Japan, South Korea), Europe (6 countries), North America (4 countries), Oceania and the Pacific (Australia), and South America (4 countries). Currently classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List, this species faces significant conservation challenges across its range.

Asperococcus ensiformis is a tubular to flattened brown alga forming elongated, sac-like or sword-shaped thalli attached to rocky substrates. It inhabits intertidal and shallow subtidal rocky shores of the North Atlantic and Mediterranean coasts. This photosynthetic macroalga grows on rocks and larger algae in wave-exposed coastal zones.

Common Silver Hairgrass

<em>Aira caryophyllea</em>, commonly known as Common Silver Hairgrass, is a slender annual grass belonging to the family Poaceae within the order Poales. This delicate grass is currently classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List, reflecting significant conservation concern despite its historically broad distribution. It is typically found across a remarkable diversity of biome types, including tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests, grasslands, savannas, and flooded habitats, demonstrating notable ecological versatility. Its geographic range spans multiple continents, with documented populations in Africa (Cameroon), Asia (Japan, South Korea), Europe, North America, Australia, and South America. As an annual grass, it completes its life cycle within a single growing season, reproducing via wind-dispersed seeds. The inflorescence typically bears silvery, shimmering spikelets that give the species its common name. Biological traits such as average lifespan, body dimensions, and dietary specifics follow typical patterns for annual grasses — drawing nutrients from soil through root absorption rather than consuming other organisms. The endangered status suggests populations may be declining due to habitat loss, land-use change, or invasive species pressure across parts of its range.