Velvet grass: A 0.2-1 m tall tufted perennial grass. The plant's most distinctive characteristic is the numerous soft hairs (velvet). The seed bearing portion of the plant is a 4-15 cm long, greyish, often purple tinged panicle. The leaf sheaths are open and the leaf blades are flat, 3-10 mm broad, 15 cm long, narrow and erect in the seedling stage. The auricles are absent and the 1-2 mm long membranous ligules are flat topped with minute hairs. The plants are native to Europe and sometimes cultivated as a meadow grass on light soil.