Deschampsia

Deschampsia
Deschampsia cespitosa
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Clade: Commelinids
Order: Poales
Family: Poaceae
Subfamily: Pooideae
Supertribe: Poodae
Tribe: Poeae
Subtribe: Aristaveninae
F.Albers & Butzin
Genus: Deschampsia
P.Beauv.
Type species
Deschampsia cespitosa
(L.) P.Beauv.
Synonyms
  • Airidium Steud.
  • Aristavena F.Albers & Butzin
  • Campella Link
  • Czerniaevia Turcz. ex Griseb.
  • Erioblastus Honda ex Nakai
  • Monandraira É.Desv.
  • Podionapus Dulac
  • Scribneria Hack.

Deschampsia is a genus of plants in the grass family Poaceae, commonly known as hair grass or tussock grass. The genus is widespread across many countries.

The genus is named for French physician and naturalist Louis Auguste Deschamps (1765–1842).

Deschampsia species are used as food plants by the larvae of some species of Lepidoptera, including antler moth, the clay, clouded-bordered brindle, common wainscot, dark arches, dusky brocade, shoulder-striped wainscot, smoky wainscot and wall.

Deschampsia sometimes grow in boggy acidic formations, an example of which is the Portlethen Moss, Scotland. Deschampsia antarctica is the world's most southern monocot, and one of only two flowering plants of Antarctica.

Some species, such as D. cespitosa, are grown as ornamental garden plants.