Agrostis virginica Linnaeus, Sp. Pl. 1: 63. 1753; Vilfa virginica (Linnaeus) P. Beauvois.

Perennial with long, tough, yellowish rhizomes. Culms erect or decumbent, often fastigiately branched in upper part, 15–30 cm tall, 1–2 mm thick. Leaf sheaths tightly overlapping, loosely pubescent at mouth; leaf blades glaucous, stiff, distichous, flat at first, soon involute, 3–10 × 0.1–0.3 cm, adaxial surface scabrid, abaxial surface smooth, apex pungent; ligule ca. 0.2 mm. Panicle linear, spikelike, 3–10 × 0.4–1 cm; branches 0.5–1.5 cm, erect, appressed to rachis. Spikelets gray-green or greenish yellow, fusiform, 2.3–2.7 mm; glumes acute; lower glume lanceolate, 2/3–4/5 spikelet length, 1-veined; upper glume narrowly ovate, as long as spikelet, 1-veined; lemma broadly lanceolate, subequal to upper glume, midvein distinct, lateral veins obscure, obtuse; palea equaling lemma. Anthers 3, 1–1.5 mm. Grain subglobose, ca. 0.7 mm. Fl. and fr. Jun–Sep. 2n = 18.

This species is a good sand binder. It is widespread on seashores and in inland, saline places in warm parts of both the Old and New Worlds.

Sandy seashores, often below high tide mark. Fujian, Guangdong, Hainan, Taiwan, Zhejiang [India, Indonesia, Japan (Ryukyu Islands), Malaysia, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam; tropics and subtropics].