Common Silver Hairgrass vs

Aira caryophyllea compared with Nostoc sphaericum

Key Differences

• Common Silver Hairgrass is Endangered while is Not Evaluated.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Common Silver Hairgrass
Kingdom	Plantae (식물)	Bacteria (Bacteria)
Phylum	Magnoliophyta (피자식물문)	Cyanobacteria (남조류)
Class	Liliopsida (백합강)	Cyanobacteriia
Order	Poales (벼목)	Cyanobacteriales
Family	Poaceae (Grass Family)	Nostocaceae
Genus	Aira	Nostoc
Species	Aira caryophyllea	Nostoc sphaericum

Conservation Status

Common Silver Hairgrass

EN — Endangered

NE — Not Evaluated

Physical Characteristics

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

Habitat & Geographic Range

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.

Habitat

Native to Europe, inhabiting ecosystems characteristic of the region.

Range

Distributed across Norway and Sweden.

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.

Nostoc sphaericum은 Nostocaceae과에 속하는 군체성 질소 고정 남세균으로, 육안으로 볼 수 있는 젤라틴 상태의 구형 또는 불규칙 군체를 형성한다. 습한 토양, 암석, 담수 환경에 서식하며, 강우 후 눈에 띄는 덩어리를 형성한다.

Shared Countries

Both species can be found in 2 countries:

🇳🇴 Norway 🇸🇪 Sweden