vs Common Silver Hairgrass

Chrysosphaerella longispina 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	Ochromonadales (Ochromonadales)	Poales (Grasses)
Family	Paraphysomonadaceae	Poaceae (Grass Family)
Genus	Chrysosphaerella	Aira
Species	Chrysosphaerella longispina	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.

Chrysosphaerella longispina is a colonial chrysophyte alga in the genus Chrysosphaerella, notable for the long silica spines (longispina: Latin, long spine) that project from each cell in the colony. The genus is characterized by spherical or discoid colonies of photosynthetic cells that each secrete siliceous scales and elongated spine-like appendages, making Chrysosphaerella colonies distinctively bristled and visible under light microscopy. The long spines of C. longispina likely serve as anti-predation structures that make the colonies more difficult for zooplankton to ingest. C. longispina is found in cold, oligotrophic freshwater lakes, particularly in Scandinavia, where comprehensive chrysophyte surveys have documented its presence. Chrysosphaerella colonies contribute to freshwater primary production and the cycling of biogenic silica, which upon cell dissolution is deposited in lake sediments as microscopically identifiable remains. These silica structures are widely used by paleolimnologists to reconstruct past changes in lake water chemistry, thermal stratification, and climate. The conservation status of C. longispina has not been assessed by the IUCN; the species is listed as Not Evaluated.

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.