Selbourne Field Guide Entry

Grig

Category: flora

“Grig” is an old dialect term referring to coarse, wiry grasses.

Field Description

Fine, often dry grasses growing between heather and gorse, forming the base layer of the heath.

In White’s Landscape

Though less conspicuous than shrubs, this layer:

• carries fire quickly
• recovers rapidly after burning
• contributes to the structure of the habitat

Notes

A subtle but important component of heath ecology—easy to overlook, but essential to the system.