vs Common Silver Hairgrass

Chrysococcus cordiformis compared with Aira caryophyllea

Key Differences

is Not Evaluated while Common Silver Hairgrass is Endangered.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank		Common Silver Hairgrass
Kingdom	Chromista (Chromista)	Plantae (Plants)
Phylum	Ochrophyta (Ochrophyta)	Magnoliophyta (Flowering Plants)
Class	Chrysophyceae (Chrysophyceae)	Liliopsida (Monocots)
Order	Chromulinales (Chromulinales)	Poales (Grasses)
Family	Dinobryaceae	Poaceae (Grass Family)
Genus	Chrysococcus	Aira
Species	Chrysococcus cordiformis	Aira caryophyllea

Conservation Status

NE — Not Evaluated

Common Silver Hairgrass

EN — Endangered

Physical Characteristics

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

Habitat & Geographic Range

Habitat

Native to Europe, inhabiting ecosystems characteristic of the region.

Range

Distributed across Denmark, Norway, and Sweden.

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.

Chrysococcus cordiformis is a freshwater chrysophyte microalga in the genus Chrysococcus, class Chrysophyceae. The species epithet cordiformis — heart-shaped — describes the characteristic lorica shape of this species, a lorica being the rigid or semi-rigid outer case secreted by the cell that gives Chrysococcus its distinctive appearance. The heart-shaped lorica of C. cordiformis provides a clear morphological character distinguishing it from species with spherical, ovoid, or otherwise shaped loricas. Chrysococcus species are unicellular, loricate golden algae that inhabit freshwater ecosystems, particularly the euphotic zones of oligotrophic to mesotrophic lakes and ponds. C. cordiformis has been documented from Norwegian and Swedish freshwater environments, which provide cold, clear-water habitats typical of Scandinavian highland and boreal lakes. Records also extend to Brazil, indicating a wide geographic range consistent with the passive dispersal capacity of small, light-weight planktonic microalgae. The cells of C. cordiformis possess one or two flagella that protrude through an opening in the lorica, enabling active swimming in the water column. Photosynthesis is conducted using chlorophylls a and c with carotenoid accessory pigments. Chrysococcus species may also feed phagotrophically on bacteria. C. cordiformis has not been formally evaluated under IUCN criteria and retains a conservation status of Not Evaluated. It represents a characteristic member of freshwater chrysophyte communities associated with cool, acidic, or nutrient-poor Scandinavian lake systems.

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.