Holcus mollis

Holcus mollis

Taxonavigation

Taxonavigation: Poales
Classification System: APG IV Superregnum: Eukaryota Cladus: Diaphoretickes Cladus: CAM Cladus: Archaeplastida Regnum: Plantae Cladus: Angiosperms Cladus: Monocots Cladus: Commelinids Ordo: Poales

Familia: Poaceae
Subfamilia: Pooideae
Tribus: Poeae
Subtribus: Holcinae
Genus: Holcus
Species: Holcus mollis

Name

Holcus mollis L., Syst. Nat., ed. 10. 2: 1305 (1759)

Synonyms

• Homotypic
  • Aira holcus-mollis Vill. in Hist. Pl. Dauphiné 2: 88 (1787), nom. superfl.
  • Aira mollis (L.) Schreb. in Spic. Fl. Lips.: 51 (1771)
  • Avena mollis (L.) Koeler in Descr. Gramin.: 300 (1802), nom. illeg.
  • Avena sylvatica Salisb. in Prodr. Stirp. Chap. Allerton: 24 (1796), nom. superfl.
  • Notholcus mollis (L.) Hitchc. in Amer. J. Bot. 2: 304 (1915)
• Heterotypic
  • Holcus densus Peterm. in Flora 27: 233 (1844)
  • Holcus longiaristatus St.-Lag. in A.Cariot, Étude Fl., éd. 8. 2: 907 (1889)
  • Holcus mollis var. biaristatus Parn. in Grass. Scotland: 51 (1842)
  • Holcus mollis var. coloratus Peterm. in Anal. Pfl.-Schlüss.: 537 (1846)
  • Holcus mollis var. densus (Peterm.) Nyman in Consp. Fl. Eur.: 809 (1882)
  • Holcus mollis var. glaber Pauquy in Statist. Bot. Somme: 445 (1831)
  • Holcus mollis var. glaber G.Mey. in Chloris Han.: 642 (1836)
  • Holcus mollis var. glabrescens Zapał. in Consp. Fl. Galic. Crit. 1: ? (1904)
  • Holcus mollis var. gymnogonus N.H.F.Desp. in Fl. Sarthe: 303 (1838)
  • Holcus mollis var. hermaphroditus N.H.F.Desp. in Fl. Sarthe: 304 (1838)
  • Holcus mollis var. minutus Druce in Rep. Bot. Soc. Exch. Club Brit. Isles 9: 282 (1930 publ. 1931)
  • Holcus mollis var. multiflorus Peterm. in Fl. Lips. Excurs.: 109 (1838)
  • Holcus mollis var. parviflorus Parn. in Grass. Scotland: 51 (1842)
  • Holcus mollis var. pauciflorus Pauquy in Statist. Bot. Somme: 448 (1831)
  • Holcus mollis subsp. reuteri (Boiss.) Tutin in J. Linn. Soc., Bot. 76: 363 (1978)
  • Holcus mollis var. serpentini Legendre in Cat. Pl. Limousin 2: 365 (1922)
  • Holcus mollis var. submuticus Holmb. in Bot. Not. 1926: 181 (1926)
  • Holcus mollis var. triflorus Trab. in Bull. Soc. Bot. France 32: 396 (1885)
  • Holcus mollis subsp. triflorus (Trab.) Trab. in J.A.Battandier & al., Fl. Algérie, Monocot.: 169 (1895)
  • Holcus mollis var. villosus Pauquy in Statist. Bot. Somme: 448 (1831)
  • Holcus reuteri Boiss. in P.E.Boissier & G.F.Reuter, Pugill. Pl. Afr. Bor. Hispan.: 119 (1852)
  • Holcus triflorus (Trab.) Trab. in J.A.Battandier & L.C.Trabut, Fl. Algérie Tunisie: 367 (1905)

Distribution

Native distribution areas:

Continental: Africa Regionalː Northern Africa Algeria, Tunisia Continental: Europe Regionalː Central Europe Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Czechia-Slovakia, Germany, Hungary, Netherlands, Poland, Switzerland Regionalː Northern Europe Baltic States, Denmark, Føroyar, Northwest European Russia, Norway, Sweden RegionalːSoutheastern Europe Bulgaria, Greece, Italy, NW. Balkan Pen., Romania, Türkiye-in-Europe, Ukraine Regionalː Eastern Europe Central European Russia RegionalːSouthwestern Europe Corse, France, Portugal, Spain RegionalːWestern Europe Great Britain, Ireland Introduced into: Azores, British Columbia, California, Chatham Is., Colombia, Crozet Is., Delaware, Finland, Idaho, Japan, Kerguelen, Madeira, New Hampshire, New South Wales, New York, New Zealand South, Newfoundland, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Sri Lanka, Tasmania, Vermont, Victoria, Washington References: Brummitt, R.K. 2001. TDWG – World Geographical Scheme for Recording Plant Distributions, 2nd Edition

References

Primary references

• Linnaeus, C. 1759. Systema naturae per regna tria naturae, secundum classes, ordines, genera, species, cum characteribus, differentiis, synonymis, locis. Tomus II. Editio decima, reformata. Pp. [I–VI], 825–1384. Impensis direct. Laurentii Salvii, Holmiae [Stockholm]. BHL Reference page.  ed. 10, 2:1305.

Additional references

• Clayton, W.D., Harman, K.T. & Williamson, H. 2006. World Grass Species – Synonymy database. The Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Available for download as an Access file from Synonymy database. Reference page. 

Links

• Govaerts, R. et al. 2025. Holcus mollis in Kew Science Plants of the World Online. The Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Published online. Accessed: 2025 December 01. Reference page. 
• Tropicos.org 2025. Holcus mollis. Missouri Botanical Garden. Published online. Accessed: 01 December 2025. Reference page.
• International Plant Names Index. 2025. Holcus mollis. Published online. Accessed: December 01 2025. Reference page.
• International Plant Names Index. 19210. December 01. Published online. Accessed: 2025 19210. Reference page.

Vernacular names

• Deutsch: Weiches Honiggras
• English: Creeping Soft Grass
• suomi: Pehmytmesiheinä
• français: Houlque molle
• Nederlands: Gladde Witbol

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