Catabrosa aquatica Whorl-grass

Catabrosa aquatica, Whorl-grass, is a perennial, aquatic grass with a distinctive, purple inflorescence and spikelets that have only 1 or 2 (rarely 3) florets. It grows at the edges of ponds, canals, reens and other slow-running watercourses, sometimes forming floating mats, but it has a patchy distribution in Britain and at best locally common. Cattle graze it eagerly, so where it does occur it can be difficult to find because it doesn't get a chance to flower. It has also suffered significant decline in Britain as a result of habitat loss. In West Glamorgan, it was recorded on the Tennant Canal between Neath and Briton Ferry in 1938 but has not been seen there in more recent times. The only recent record of it was made by Julian Woodman on Margam Moors. It can be confused with Poa species and Glyceria species and may be under recorded in the county.

Native