Latin form of the Greek holkos – some species of grass.

Tufted, rhizomatous or stoloniferous annual and perennial grass. Leaf blades flat, rolled in bud, ligule membranous. Inflorescence fairly compact, paniculate. Spikelets flattened laterally, with 2(3) florets, the lower bisexual, upper usually male. Glumes 2, more or less equal and longer than the florets, strongly ridged; lower glume 1-nerved, upper glume 3-nerved, both generally with a dorsal awn. Lemmas glossy, with lower awnless, the upper awned, indistinctly 3-5 nerved. Palea textured like the lemma, 2-nerved, 2-keeled.

Yorkshire Fog is a common wayside weed that grows in grasslands, open woodland, and disturbed areas. H. lanatus and H. mollis (which is rhizomatous, not tufted like H. lanatus) are significant weed species and H. lanatus is also a cultivated fodder crop.

Seed.

Foliage and inflorescence soft and velvety.

9 species from Africa to Asia. 4 species naturalised in Australia.

Source: Spencer, R.; Aldous, D.; Stajsic, V.; McGeary, D (2005). Poaceae. In: Spencer, R.. Horticultural Flora of South-eastern Australia. Volume 5. Flowering plants. Monocotyledons. The identification of garden and cultivated plants. University of New South Wales Press.