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Schismus barbatus - Mediterranean grass

Scientific Family
Poaceae
Synonyms
Festuca barbata, Schismus calycinus
Other common names
Mediterraneangrass
common Mediterranean grass
Plant type
Grasses
Riparian
No

Grass Description

Origin
Introduced
Season
Cool

Open desert, dry open slopes, sandy washes and disturbed areas.

Plant Community
Desert Scrub
Disturbed Areas
Grasslands
Interior Chaparral
Low elevation
1000
High elevation
5000

General Description

A small, low growing grass distinguished by its often ground-hugging growth. Sometimes a short-lived perennial.

Tufted, low growing, erect to spreading or semi-prostrate, 4 to 8 inches tall; blades tightly rolled (filiform),hairless; seedheads contracted and dense; spiklelets of multiple florets; terminal floret infertile; lower florets exceed glumes.

Grass type
Annual
Rhizomes
No
Stolons
No
Clump Diameter 2 ft or more
Yes
Bushy - highly branched
No
Height with Seedheads
Less than 12 inches
Seedhead Structure
Branched - contracted
Seedhead droops
No
First bloom month
January
Last bloom month
May

Flower Characteristics

Flowers per Spikelet
Multi-flowered
Spikelets One-Sided
No
Awns
Absent
Three Awns
No
Awns bent
No
Flower and Seedhead Notes

Dense compact seedheads rise from the ends of the stems, 1/2 to 2 inches long; spikelets 1/4 inch long, 5 to 7 flowers; glumes 1/8 to 1/4 inch long, acute or tapering.

Vegetative Characteristics

Blade is hairy
No
Blade margins white
No
Blade cross-section
Flat
Folded

Blades are 1 to 2 inches long, < 1/16 inch wide; if facing away from the stem, surfaces smooth or rough and covered with scabs; if facing toward the stem, surfaces rough; sparsely covered with fine soft short hairs near ligules.

Sheath is hairy
No
Tufts of hair top of sheath or collar
No
Ligule
Hairy
Auricles
No

Unknown.