Cross-section of a monocot root. Note the lack of any pattern in the arrangement of the vascular bundles.
For the background to this list, see List of the vascular plants of Britain and Ireland .
This page's list covers the monocotyledon plants found in Great Britain and Ireland. This clade includes grasses , lilies , orchids , irises and a wide variety of aquatic plants.
Status key: * indicates an introduced species and e indicates an extinct species.
Order Alismatales (alismatids) [ ]
Family Butomaceae (flowering-rushes) [ ]
English name
Scientific name
Status
Flowering rush
Butomus umbellatus
Family Alismataceae (water-plantains) [ ]
English name
Scientific name
Status
Arrowhead
Sagittaria sagittifolia
Duck-potato
Sagittaria latifolia
*
Canadian arrowhead
Sagittaria rigida
*
Narrow-leaved arrowhead
Sagittaria subulata
*
Lesser water-plantain
Baldellia ranunculoides
Floating water-plantain
Luronium natans
Water-plantain
Alisma plantago-aquatica
Narrow-leaved water-plantain
Alisma lanceolatum
Ribbon-leaved water-plantain
Alisma gramineum
Starfruit
Damasonium alisma
Frogbit
Hydrocharis morsus-ranae
Family Hydrocharitaceae (tape-grasses) [ ]
English name
Scientific name
Status
Water-soldier
Stratiotes aloides
Large-flowered waterweed
Egeria densa
*
Canadian waterweed
Elodea canadensis
*
Nuttall's waterweed
Elodea nuttallii
*
South American waterweed
*
Esthwaite waterweed
Hydrilla verticillata
*
Curly waterweed
Lagarosiphon major
*
Tapegrass
Vallisneria spiralis
*
Slender naiad
Najas flexilis
Holly-leaved naiad
Najas marina
Family Aponogetonaceae (Cape-pondweeds) [ ]
English name
Scientific name
Status
Cape-pondweed
Aponogeton distachyos
*
Family Scheuchzeriaceae (Rannoch-rush, pod grass) [ ]
English name
Scientific name
Status
Rannoch-rush
Scheuchzeria palustris
English name
Scientific name
Status
Marsh arrowgrass
Triglochin palustris
Sea arrowgrass
Triglochin maritimum
Family Potamogetonaceae (pondweeds) [ ]
English name
Scientific name
Status
Opposite-leaved pondweed
Groenlandia densa
Broad-leaved pondweed
Potamogeton natans
Bog pondweed
Potamogeton polygonifolius
Fen pondweed
Potamogeton coloratus
Loddon pondweed
Potamogeton nodosus
Shining pondweed
Potamogeton lucens
Various-leaved pondweed
Potamogeton gramineus
Red pondweed
Potamogeton alpinus
Long-stalked pondweed
Potamogeton praelongus
Perfoliate pondweed
Potamogeton perfoliatus
American pondweed
Potamogeton epihydrus
Flat-stalked pondweed
Potamogeton friesii
Shetland pondweed
Potamogeton rutilus
Lesser pondweed
Potamogeton pusillus
Blunt-leaved pondweed
Potamogeton obtusifolius
Small pondweed
Potamogeton berchtoldii
Hairlike pondweed
Potamogeton trichoides
Grass-wrack pondweed
Potamogeton compressus
Sharp-leaved pondweed
Potamogeton acutifolius
Curled pondweed
Potamogeton crispus
Slender-leaved pondweed
Potamogeton filiformis
Fennel pondweed
Potamogeton pectinatus
Horned pondweed
Zannichellia palustris
Family Ruppiaceae (widgeonweeds, ditch grasses, widgeon grass) [ ]
English name
Scientific name
Status
Beaked tasselweed
Ruppia maritima
Spiral tasselweed
Ruppia cirrhosa
Family Zosteraceae (seagrasses) [ ]
English name
Scientific name
Status
Eelgrass
Zostera marina
Narrow-leaved eelgrass
Zostera angustifolia
Dwarf eelgrass
Zostera noltei
Family Araceae (arum) [ ]
English name
Scientific name
Status
American skunk-cabbage
Lysichiton americanus
*
Asian skunk-cabbage
Lysichiton camtschatcensis
*
Bog arum
Calla palustris
*
Altar-lily
Zantedeschia aethiopica
*
Lords-and-ladies
Arum maculatum
Italian lords-and-ladies
Arum italicum
Dragon arum
Dracunculus vulgaris
*
Mousetailplant
*
Greater duckweed
Spirodela polyrhiza
Fat duckweed
Lemna gibba
Common duckweed
Lemna minor
Ivy-leaved duckweed
Least duckweed
Lemna minuta
*
Rootless duckweed
Wolffia arrhiza
Order Acorales (sweet flag) [ ]
Family Acoraceae (sweet flag) [ ]
English name
Scientific name
Status
Sweet flag
Acorus calamus
*
Slender sweet-flag
Acorus gramineus
*
Order Commelinales [ ]
Family Commelinaceae (dayflowers, spiderworts) [ ]
English name
Scientific name
Status
Spiderwort
Tradescantia virginiana
*
Wandering-Jew
Tradescantia fluminensis
*
Family Pontederiaceae (pickerel-weed family) [ ]
English name
Scientific name
Status
Pickerelweed
Pontederia cordata
*
Order Poales [ ]
English name
Scientific name
Status
Pipewort
English name
Scientific name
Status
Heath rush
Juncus squarrosus
Slender rush
Juncus tenuis
*
Round-fruited rush
Juncus compressus
Saltmarsh rush
Juncus gerardii
Three-leaved rush
Juncus trifidus
Leafy rush
Toad rush
Juncus bufonius
Frog rush
Broad-leaved rush
Juncus planifolius
*
Dwarf rush
Juncus capitatus
Blunt-flowered rush
Juncus subnodulosus
Alpine rush
Juncus alpinoarticulatus
Jointed rush
Juncus articulatus
Sharp-flowered rush
Juncus acutiflorus
Bulbous rush
Juncus bulbosus
Pigmy rush
Two-flowered rush
Juncus biglumis
Three-flowered rush
Juncus triglumis
Chestnut rush
Juncus castaneus
Sea rush
Juncus maritimus
Sharp rush
Juncus acutus
Somerset rush
Juncus subulatus
*
Baltic rush
Juncus balticus
Thread rush
Juncus filiformis
Hard rush
Juncus inflexus
Soft-rush
Juncus effusus
Compact rush
Juncus conglomeratus
Great soft-rush
Juncus pallidus
*
Southern wood-rush
Luzula forsteri
Hairy wood-rush
Luzula pilosa
Great wood-rush
Luzula sylvatica
White wood-rush
Luzula luzuloides
*
Field wood-rush
Luzula campestris
Heath wood-rush
Luzula multiflora
Fen wood-rush
Luzula pallidula
Curved wood-rush
Luzula arcuata
Spiked wood-rush
Luzula spicata
Family Cyperaceae (sedges) [ ]
Family Poaceae (grasses) [ ]
English name
Scientific name
Status
Indian fountain-bamboo
*
Dwarf bamboo
Pleioblastus pygmaeus
*
Broad-leaved bamboo
Sasa palmata
*
Veitch's bamboo
Sasa veitchii
*
Hairy bamboo
*
Arrow bamboo
Pseudosasa japonica
*
Square-stemmed bamboo
*
Cut-grass
Leersia oryzoides
Mat-grass
Nardus stricta
American needle-grass
*
Smilo-grass
Oryzopsis miliacea
*
Wood millet
Milium effusum
Early millet
Meadow fescue
Festuca pratensis
Tall fescue
Festuca arundinacea
Giant fescue
Festuca gigantea
Wood fescue
Festuca altissima
Various-leaved fescue
Festuca heterophylla
*
Rush-leaved fescue
Festuca arenaria
Red fescue
Festuca rubra
Sheep's-fescue
Festuca ovina
Viviparous sheep's-fescue
Festuca vivipara
Fine-leaved sheep's-fescue
Festuca filiformis
Breton fescue
Festuca armoricana
Huon's fescue
Confused fescue
Blue fescue
Festuca longifolia
Hard fescue
Festuca brevipila
Perennial rye-grass
Lolium perenne
Italian rye-grass
Lolium multiflorum
*
Dune fescue
Vulpia fasciculata
Squirreltail fescue
Vulpia bromoides
Rat's-tail fescue
Vulpia myuros
Bearded fescue
Vulpia ciliata
Mat-grass fescue
Crested dog's-tail
Cynosurus cristatus
Rough dog's-tail
Cynosurus echinatus
*
Common saltmarsh-grass
Puccinellia maritima
Reflexed saltmarsh-grass
Puccinellia distans
Borrer's saltmarsh-grass
Puccinellia fasciculata
Stiff saltmarsh-grass
Quaking-grass
Briza media
Lesser quaking-grass
Briza minor
*
Greater quaking-grass
Briza maxima
*
Early meadow-grass
Poa infirma
Annual meadow-grass
Poa annua
Rough meadow-grass
Poa trivialis
Spreading meadow-grass
Poa humilis
Smooth meadow-grass
Poa pratensis
Narrow-leaved meadow-grass
Poa angustifolia
Broad-leaved meadow-grass
Poa chaixii
*
Wavy meadow-grass
Flattened meadow-grass
Poa compressa
Swamp meadow-grass
Poa palustris
*
Glaucous meadow-grass
Poa glauca
Wood meadow-grass
Poa nemoralis
Bulbous meadow-grass
Poa bulbosa
Alpine meadow-grass
Poa alpina
Tussac-grass
Poa flabellata
*
Cock's-foot
Dactylis glomerata
Slender cock's-foot
Dactylis polygama
*
Whorl-grass
Catabrosa aquatica
Fern-grass
Catapodium rigidum
Sea fern-grass
Catapodium marinum
Blue moor-grass
Sesleria caerulea
Hard-grass
Curved hard-grass
Parapholis incurva
Reed sweet-grass
Glyceria maxima
Floating sweet-grass
Glyceria fluitans
Small sweet-grass
Plicate sweet-grass
Glyceria notata
Mountain melick
Melica nutans
Wood melick
Melica uniflora
Downy oat-grass
Helictotrichon pubescens
Meadow oat-grass
Helictotrichon pratense
False oat-grass
Arrhenatherum elatius
Slender oat
Avena barbata
*
Bristle oat
Avena strigosa
*
Wild-oat
Avena fatua
*
Winter wild-oat
Avena sterilis
*
Oat
Avena sativa
*
French oat-grass
*
Yellow oat-grass
Trisetum flavescens
Somerset hair-grass
Koeleria vallesiana
Crested hair-grass
Koeleria macrantha
Tufted hair-grass
Deschampsia cespitosa
Bog hair-grass
Wavy hair-grass
Deschampsia flexuosa
Yorkshire-fog
Holcus lanatus
Creeping soft-grass
Holcus mollis
Grey hair-grass
Corynephorus canescens
Silver hair-grass
Aira caryophyllea
Early hair-grass
Aira praecox
Holy-grass
Hierochloe odorata
Sweet vernal-grass
Anthoxanthum odoratum
Annual vernal-grass
Anthoxanthum aristatum
*
Reed canary-grass
Phalaris arundinacea
Bulbous canary-grass
Phalaris aquatica
*
Canary-grass
Phalaris canariensis
*
Lesser canary-grass
Phalaris minor
*
Awned canary-grass
Phalaris paradoxa
*
Common bent
Agrostis capillaris
Black bent
Agrostis gigantea
Highland bent
Agrostis castellana
*
Creeping bent
Agrostis stolonifera
Blown-grass
Agrostis avenacea
*
Bristle bent
Agrostis curtisii
Velvet bent
Agrostis canina
Brown bent
Agrostis vinealis
Rough bent
Agrostis scabra
*
Wood small-reed
Calamagrostis epigejos
Purple small-reed
Calamagrostis canescens
Scandinavian small-reed
Calamagrostis purpurea
Narrow small-reed
Calamagrostis stricta
Scottish small-reed
Marram
Ammophila arenaria
American marram
Ammophila breviligulata
*
Nit-grass
Gastridium ventricosum
Hare's-tail
Lagurus ovatus
*
Loose silky-bent
Apera spica-venti
Dense silky-bent
Early sand-grass
Mibora minima
Annual beard-grass
Polypogon monspeliensis
Water bent
Polypogon viridis
*
Meadow foxtail
Alopecurus pratensis
Marsh foxtail
Alopecurus geniculatus
Bulbous foxtail
Alopecurus bulbosus
Orange foxtail
Alopecurus aequalis
Alpine foxtail
Black-grass
Alopecurus myosuroides
American slough-grass
Beckmannia syzigachne
*
Timothy-grass
Phleum pratense
Smaller cat's-tail
Phleum bertolonii
Alpine cat's-tail
Phleum alpinum
Purple-stem cat's-tail
Phleum phleoides
Sand cat's-tail
Field brome
Bromus arvensis
*
Meadow brome
Bromus commutatus
Brome
Bromus racemosus
Soft-brome
Bromus hordeaceus
Slender soft-brome
Bromus lepidus
*
Interrupted brome
Bromus interruptus
e
Rye brome
Bromus secalinus
*
Smith's brome
*
Hairy-brome
Bromopsis ramosa
Lesser hairy-brome
Bromopsis benekenii
Upright brome
Bromopsis erecta
Hungarian brome
*
Great brome
Anisantha diandra
*
Ripgut brome
Anisantha rigida
*
Barren brome
Anisantha sterilis
Drooping brome
Anisantha tectorum
*
Compact brome
Anisantha madritensis
*
California brome
Ceratochloa carinata
*
Western brome
*
Rescue brome
Ceratochloa cathartica
*
Tor-grass
Brachypodium pinnatum
False brome
Brachypodium sylvaticum
Bearded couch
Elymus caninus
Common couch
Elytrigia repens
Sea couch
Elytrigia atherica
Sand couch
Elytrigia juncea
Lyme-grass
Leymus arenarius
Wood barley
Hordelymus europaeus
Two-rowed barley
Hordeum distichon
*
Wall barley
Hordeum murinum
Foxtail barley
Hordeum jubatum
*
Meadow barley
Hordeum secalinum
Sea barley
Hordeum marinum
Bread wheat
Triticum aestivatum
*
Heath-grass
Danthonia decumbens
Pampas-grass
Cortaderia selloana
*
Purple moor-grass
Molinia caerulea
Common reed
Phragmites australis
African love-grass
Eragrostis curvula
*
Small love-grass
*
Bermuda-grass
Cynodon dactylon
*
African Bermuda-grass
*
Small cord-grass
Spartina maritima
Common cord-grass
Spartina anglica
Smooth cordgrass
Spartina alterniflora
*
Prairie cord-grass
Spartina pectinata
*
Cockspur
Echinochloa crus-galli
*
Water finger-grass
Paspalum distichum
*
Green bristle-grass
Setaria viridis
*
Smooth finger-grass
Digitaria ischaemum
*
Johnson grass
Sorghum halepense
*
Family Typhaceae (cattail family) [ ]
English name
Scientific name
Status
Branched bur-reed
Sparganium erectum
Unbranched bur-reed
Sparganium emersum
Floating bur-reed
Sparganium angustifolium
Least bur-reed
Sparganium natans
Bulrush
Typha latifolia
Lesser bulrush
Typha angustifolia
Family Bromeliaceae (bromeliads) [ ]
English name
Scientific name
Status
Rhodostachys
Fascicularia bicolor
*
Tresco rhodostachys
Ochagavia carnea
*
Order Asparagales (asparagoid lilies) [ ]
Family Asphodelaceae (asphodel family) [ ]
English name
Scientific name
Status
Kerry lily
Simethis planifolia
Orange day-lily
Hemerocallis fulva
*
Yellow day-lily
Hemerocallis lilioasphodelus
*
Red-hot-poker
Kniphofia uvaria
*
Greater red-hot-poker
*
New Zealand flax
Phormium tenax
*
Lesser New Zealand flax
Phormium colensoi
*
Scottish asphodel
Tofieldia pusilla
Bog asphodel
Narthecium ossifragum
White asphodel
Asphodelus albus
*
Family Asparagaceae (asparagus family) [ ]
English name
Scientific name
Status
Lily-of-the-valley
Convallaria majalis
Solomon's-seal
Polygonatum multiflorum
Angular Solomon's-seal
Polygonatum odoratum
Whorled Solomon's-seal
Polygonatum verticillatum
May lily
Maianthemum bifolium
Reineckea
Reineckea carnea
*
Spiked Star-of-Bethlehem
Ornithogalum pyrenaicum
Star-of-Bethlehem
Ornithogalum umbellatum
Drooping Star-of-Bethlehem
Ornithogalum nutans
*
Alpine squill
Scilla bifolia
*
Greek squill
*
Siberian squill
Scilla siberica
*
Spring squill
Scilla verna
Pyrenean squill
*
Portuguese squill
Scilla peruviana
*
Autumn squill
Scilla autumnalis
Italian bluebell
Hyacinthoides italica
*
Bluebell
Hyacinthoides non-scripta
Spanish bluebell
Hyacinthoides hispanica
*
Hyacinth
Hyacinthus orientalis
*
Glory-of-the-snow
Chionodoxa forbesii
*
Lesser glory-of-the-snow
Chionodoxa sardensis
*
Grape-hyacinth
Muscari neglectum
*
Garden grape-hyacinth
Muscari armeniacum
*
Compact grape-hyacinth
Muscari botryoides
*
Tassel grape-hyacinth
Leopoldia comosa
*
Wild asparagus
Asparagus officinalis
Butcher's-broom
Ruscus aculeatus
Spineless butcher's-broom
Ruscus hypoglossum
*
Curved-leaved Spanish-dagger
Yucca gloriosa var. tristis
*
Centuryplant
Agave americana
*
Cabbage-palm
Cordyline australis
*
Family Amaryllidaceae (amaryllis family) [ ]
English name
Scientific name
Status
Chives
Allium schoenoprasum
American garlic
Allium unifolium
*
Rosy garlic
Allium roseum
*
Neapolitan garlic
Allium neapolitanum
*
Hairy garlic
Allium subhirsutum
*
Yellow garlic
Allium moly
*
Three-cornered garlic
Allium triquetrum
*
Italian garlic
Allium pendulinum
*
Few-flowered garlic
Allium paradoxum
*
Ramsons
Allium ursinum
Field garlic
Allium oleraceum
Keeled garlic
Allium carinatum
*
Wild leek
Allium ampeloprasum
Sand leek
Allium scorodoprasum
Round-headed leek
Allium sphaerocephalon
Wild onion
Allium vineale
Broad-leaved leek
Allium nigrum
*
Honey garlic
Nectaroscordum siculum
*
Honeybells
Nothoscordum borbonicum
*
African lily
Agapanthus praecox
*
Spring starflower
Tristagma uniflorum
*
Jersey lily
Amaryllis belladonna
*
Winter daffodil
Sternbergia lutea
*
Summer snowflake
Leucojum aestivum
Spring snowflake
Leucojum vernum
Snowdrop
Galanthus nivalis
Greater snowdrop
Galanthus elwesii
*
Caucasian snowdrop
*
Pleated snowdrop
Galanthus plicatus
*
Bunch-flowered daffodil
Narcissus tazetta
*
Paper-white daffodil
Narcissus papyraceus
*
Pheasant's-eye daffodil
Narcissus poeticus
*
Hoop-petticoat daffodil
Narcissus bulbocodium
*
Daffodil
Narcissus pseudonarcissus
Cyclamen-flowered daffodil
Narcissus cyclamineus
*
Family Iridaceae (iris family) [ ]
Family Orchidaceae (orchid family) [ ]
English name
Scientific name
Status
Lady's-slipper
Cypripedium calceolus
White helleborine
Cephalanthera damasonium
Narrow-leaved helleborine
Cephalanthera longifolia
Red helleborine
Cephalanthera rubra
Marsh helleborine
Epipactis palustris
Dark-red helleborine
Epipactis atrorubens
Violet helleborine
Epipactis purpurata
Broad-leaved helleborine
Epipactis helleborine
Young's helleborine
Epipactis youngiana
Narrow-lipped helleborine
Epipactis leptochila
Green-flowered helleborine
Epipactis phyllanthes
Ghost orchid
Epipogium aphyllum
Bird's-nest orchid
Neottia nidus-avis
Common twayblade
Neottia ovata
Lesser twayblade
Neottia cordata
Autumn lady's-tresses
Spiranthes spiralis
Summer lady's-tresses
Spiranthes aestivalis
e
Irish lady's-tresses
Spiranthes romanzoffiana
Creeping lady's-tresses
Goodyera repens
Fen orchid
Liparis loeselii
Bog orchid
Hammarbya paludosa
Coralroot orchid
Corallorrhiza trifida
Musk orchid
Herminium monorchis
Greater butterfly-orchid
Platanthera chlorantha
Lesser butterfly-orchid
Platanthera bifolia
Pyramidal orchid
Anacamptis pyramidalis
Small-white orchid
Pseudorchis albida
Fragrant orchid
Gymnadenia conopsea
Frog orchid
Coeloglossum viride
Common spotted-orchid
Dactylorhiza fuchsii
Heath spotted-orchid
Dactylorhiza maculata
Early marsh-orchid
Dactylorhiza incarnata
Southern marsh-orchid
Dactylorhiza praetermissa
Northern marsh-orchid
Dactylorhiza purpurella
Western marsh-orchid
Dactylorhiza majalis
Narrow-leaved marsh-orchid
Dactylorhiza traunsteineri
Lapland marsh-orchid
Dactylorhiza lapponica
Dense-flowered orchid
Neotinea maculata
Loose-flowered orchid
Orchis laxiflora
Early-purple orchid
Orchis mascula
Green-winged orchid
Orchis morio
Burnt orchid
Orchis ustulata
Lady orchid
Orchis purpurea
Military orchid
Orchis militaris
Monkey orchid
Orchis simia
Man orchid
Aceras anthropophorum
Lizard orchid
Himantoglossum hircinum
Fly orchid
Ophrys insectifera
Early spider-orchid
Ophrys sphegodes
Bee orchid
Ophrys apifera
Late spider-orchid
Ophrys fuciflora
Order Liliales [ ]
Family Colchicaceae (colchicum family) [ ]
English name
Scientific name
Status
Meadow saffron
Colchicum autumnale
Family Liliaceae (true lilies) [ ]
English name
Scientific name
Status
Snowdon lily
Gagea serotina (syn. Lloydia serotina )
Yellow Star-of-Bethlehem
Gagea lutea
Early Star-of-Bethlehem
Gagea bohemica
Wild tulip
Tulipa sylvestris
*
Cretan tulip
Tulipa saxatilis
*
Garden tulip
Tulipa gesneriana
*
Fritillary
Fritillaria meleagris
*
Martagon lily
Lilium martagon
*
Pyrenean lily
Lilium pyrenaicum
*
Family Melanthiaceae (bunchflower family) [ ]
English name
Scientific name
Status
Herb-paris
Paris quadrifolia
Order Dioscoreales [ ]
English name
Scientific name
Status
Black bryony
Dioscorea communis
See also [ ]
For all lists, see Category: Lists of the vascular plants of the British Isles .
Flora of the British Isles
References [ ]
Vascular plants of Great Britain and Ireland