smithsonian contributions to botany • number 103

Smithsonian Institution

Scholarly Press

Smithsonian Institution

Scholarly Press

Grasses of Egypt

Kamal M. Ibrahim, Hasnaa A. Hosni,

and Paul M. Peterson
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smithsonian contributions to botany • numb e r 1 0 3

Grasses of Egypt

Kamal M. Ibrahim, Hasnaa A. Hosni, 

and Paul M. Peterson

WASHINGTON D.C.

2016
ABSTRACT

Ibrahim, Kamal M., Hasnaa A. Hosni, and Paul M. Peterson. Grasses of Egypt. Smithsonian Contributions to Botany, number 103, x + 201 pages, 292 figures, 1 table, 2016.—A vegetative key, descriptions, 

and illustrations for the identification of 284 native and naturalized grasses that occur in Egypt are 

presented. In addition, we provide a modern classification, glossary of terms, and indexes to scientific 

and common names. The key is based on vegetative characters to allow identification of specimens that 

do not have flowering structures (inflorescences and spikelets).

Cover images, from left to right: Enneapogon persicus spikelet (Figure 129C); Phalaris paradoxa

habit (Figure 199A, detail); Stipagrostis obtusa habit (Figure 256A, detail); Bromus fasciculatus

habit (Figure 42A, detail); Cenchrus echinatus habit (Figure 61A, detail); Cymbopogon iwarancusa

spikelets (Figure 89D). 

Published by SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION SCHOLARLY PRESS

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Compilation copyright © 2016 Smithsonian Institution

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Names: Ibrahim, Kamal (Kamal M.), author. | Hosni, Hasnaa A., author. | Peterson, Paul M., author.

Title: Grasses of Egypt / Kamal M. Ibrahim, Hasnaa A. Hosni, and Paul M. Peterson.

Other titles: Smithsonian contributions to botany ; no. 103.

Description: Washington, D.C. : Smithsonian Institution Scholarly Press, 

2016. | Series: Smithsonian contributions to botany ; number 103 | 

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Identifiers: LCCN 2015035797

Subjects: LCSH: Grasses--Egypt--Identification. | Grasses--Egypt--Classification.

Classification: LCC QK495.G74 I24 2016 | DDC 584.90962--dc23 LC record available at 

http://lccn.loc.gov/2015035797

ISSN: 1938-2812 (online); 0081-024X (print) 

Publication date (online): 11 March 2016

Ó The paper used in this publication meets the minimum requirements of the American National Standard for Permanence of Paper for Printed Library Materials Z39.48–1992.
Contents

LIST OF FIGURES v

INTRODUCTION 1

Morphological Characters 3

Phytogeography 6

Identification 7

Acknowledgments 10

VEGETATIVE KEY TO THE GRASSES OF EGYPT 13

DESCRIPTIONS 29

GLOSSARY OF TERMS 181

REFERENCES 187

INDEX OF COMMON NAMES (ARABIC) 191

INDEX OF COMMON NAMES (ENGLISH) 195

INDEX OF SCIENTIFIC NAMES 199

Figures

1. General morphology 4

2. Growth forms 5

3. Types of sheaths, auricles, and collars 6

4. Ligule types, shapes, and margins 7

5. Leaf blade apices, bases, and margins 8

6. Leaf blade characteristics 9

7. Inflorescence types 10

8. Inflorescence and spikelet characteristics 11

9. Phytogeographical territories of Egypt 12

10. Acrachne racemosa 29

11. Aegilops bicornis 30

12. Aegilops geniculata 30

13. Aegilops kotschyi 31

14. Aegilops longissima 31

15. Aegilops peregrina 32

16. Aegilops ventricosa 32

17. Aeluropus lagopoides 33

18. Aeluropus littoralis 33

19. Agropyron cristatum 34

20. Agrostis stolonifera 34

21. Alopecurus myosuroides 35

22. Ammochloa palaestina 35

23. Ammophila arenaria 36

24. Andropogon distachyos 36

25. Aristida adscensionis 37

26. Aristida funiculata 37

27. Aristida mutabilis 38

28. Arundo donax 38

29. Avena barbata 39

30. Avena fatua 40

31. Avena longiglumis 40

32. Avena sativa 41

33. Avena sterilis 41

34. Brachypodium distachyon 42

35. Briza maxima 42
v i 

• SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO BOTANY

36. Briza minor 43

37. Bromus aegyptiacus 43

38. Bromus alopecuros 44

39. Bromus catharticus 44

40. Bromus danthoniae 45

41. Bromus diandrus 45

42. Bromus fasciculatus 46

43. Bromus hordeaceus 47

44. Bromus inermis 47

45. Bromus japonicus 48

46. Bromus lanceolatus 48

47. Bromus lepidus 49

48. Bromus madritensis 49

49. Bromus pectinatus 50

50. Bromus pulchellus 50

51. Bromus pumilio 51

52. Bromus rubens 51

53. Bromus scoparius 52

54. Bromus sterilis 52

55. Bromus tectorum 53

56. Catapodium rigidum 54

57. Cenchrus americanus 54

58. Cenchrus biflorus 55

59. Cenchrus ciliaris 55

60. Cenchrus clandestinus 56

61. Cenchrus echinatus 56

62. Cenchrus longisetus 57

63. Cenchrus orientalis 57

64. Cenchrus pennisetiformis 58

65. Cenchrus ramosissimus 58

66. Cenchrus setaceus 59

67. Cenchrus setiger 59

68. Cenchrus sieberianus 60

69. Cenchrus violaceus 60

70. Centropodia forskalii 61

71. Centropodia fragilis 61

72. Chloris flagellifera 62

73. Chloris gayana 62

74. Chloris prieurii 63

75. Chloris pycnothrix 63

76. Chloris virgata 64

77. Chrysopogon plumulosus 64

78. Chrysopogon zizanioides 65

79. Coelachyrum brevifolium 65

80. Coix lacryma-jobi 66

81. Cortaderia selloana 66

82. Corynephorus divaricatus 67

83. Crithopsis delileana 67

84. Cutandia dichotoma 68

85. Cutandia maritima 68

86. Cutandia memphitica 69

87. Cymbopogon citratus 69

88. Cymbopogon flexuosus 70

89. Cymbopogon iwarancusa 70
NUMBER 103

• vii

90. Cymbopogon martini 71

91. Cymbopogon nardus 72

92. Cymbopogon schoenanthus 72

93. Cynodon dactylon 73

94. Cynodon transvaalensis 73

95. Cynosurus coloratus 74

96. Cynosurus echinatus 74

97. Dactylis glomerata 75

98. Dactyloctenium aegyptium 75

99. Dactyloctenium aristatum 76

100. Dactyloctenium scindicum 77

101. Danthoniopsis barbata 77

102. Desmazeria philistaea 78

103. Desmostachya bipinnata 78

104. Dichanthium annulatum 79

105. Dichanthium foveolatum 79

106. Digitaria ciliaris 80

107. Digitaria nodosa 80

108. Digitaria sanguinalis 81

109. Digitaria velutina 81

110. Digitaria violascens 82

111. Dinebra panicea 82

112. Dinebra retroflexa 83

113. Diplachne fusca 83

114. Echinochloa colona 84

115. Echinochloa crus-galli 85

116. Echinochloa pyramidalis 85

117. Echinochloa stagnina 86

118. Ehrharta calycina 86

119. Eleusine africana 87

120. Eleusine coracana 87

121. Eleusine floccifolia 88

122. Eleusine indica 88

123. Elionurus royleanusv 89

124. Elymus elongatus 89

125. Elymus farctus 90

126. Elymus repens 90

127. Enneapogon desvauxii 91

128. Enneapogon lophotrichus 91

129. Enneapogon persicus 92

130. Enneapogon scaber 92

131. Eragrostis aegyptiaca 93

132. Eragrostis aspera 94

133. Eragrostis barrelieri 94

134. Eragrostis cilianensis 95

135. Eragrostis ciliaris 95

136. Eragrostis japonica 96

137. Eragrostis lepida 96

138. Eragrostis minor 97

139. Eragrostis pilosa 97

140. Eragrostis sarmentosa 98

141. Eragrostis tef 98

142. Eragrostis tenella 99

143. Eragrostis tenuifolia 99
viii 

• SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO BOTANY

144. Eragrostis tremula 100

145. Eremopyrum bonaepartis 100

146. Eremopyrum distans 101

147. Festuca brevis 101

148. Festuca bromoides 102

149. Festuca fasciculata 102

150. Festuca myuros 103

151. Festuca pectinella 103

152. Gastridium phleoides 104

153. Halopyrum mucronatum 104

154. Hemarthria altissima 105

155. Holcus annuus 105

156. Hordeum marinum 106

157. Hordeum murinum 107

158. Hordeum spontaneum 107

159. Hordeum vulgare 108

160. Hyparrhenia hirta 108

161. Imperata cylindrica 109

162. Lagurus ovatus 109

163. Lamarckia aurea 110

164. Lasiurus scindicus 111

165. Leersia hexandra 111

166. Leptothrium senegalense 112

167. Lolium arundinaceum 112

168. Lolium multiflorum 113

169. Lolium perenne 113

170. Lolium rigidum 114

171. Lolium temulentum 114

172. Lygeum spartum 115

173. Megathyrsus maximus 115

174. Melanocenchris abyssinica 116

175. Melica persica 117

176. Melinis minutiflora 117

177. Melinis repens 118

178. Miscanthus sinensis 119

179. Moorochloa eruciformis 119

180. Oloptum miliaceum 120

181. Oryza sativa 120

182. Panicum antidotale 121

183. Panicum coloratum 121

184. Panicum hygrocharis 122

185. Panicum miliaceum 122

186. Panicum repens 123

187. Panicum turgidum 123

188. Parapholis filiformis 124

189. Parapholis incurva 124

190. Parapholis marginata 125

191. Paspalum dilatatum 125

192. Paspalum distichum 126

193. Paspalum racemosum 126

194. Phalaris aquatica 127

195. Phalaris arundinacea 127

196. Phalaris canariensis 128

197. Phalaris coerulescens 128
NUMBER 103

• i x

198. Phalaris minor 129

199. Phalaris paradoxa 129

200. Phleum pratense 130

201. Phleum subulatum 130

202. Phragmites australis 131

203. Phragmites mauritianus 132

204. Piptatherum holciforme 132

205. Poa annua 133

206. Poa diaphora 133

207. Poa infirma 134

208. Poa persica 134

209. Poa sinaica 135

210. Pogonatherum paniceum 135

211. Polypogon maritimus 136

212. Polypogon monspeliensis 136

213. Polypogon viridis 137

214. Rostraria cristata 137

215. Rostraria hispida 138

216. Rostraria obtusiflora 138

217. Rostraria pumila 139

218. Rostraria rohlfsii 139

219. Saccharum officinarum 140

220. Saccharum spontaneum 141

221. Schismus arabicus 141

222. Schismus barbatus 142

223. Schmidtia pappophoroides 142

224. Schoenefeldia gracilis 143

225. Setaria geminata 143

226. Setaria italica 144

227. Setaria megaphylla 144

228. Setaria obtusifolia 145

229. Setaria pumila 145

230. Setaria verticillata 146

231. Setaria viridis 146

232. Sorghum arundinaceum 147

233. Sorghum bicolor 147

234. Sorghum halepense 148

235. Sorghum virgatum 149

236. Sorghum × drummondii 149

237. Sphenopus divaricatus 150

238. Sporobolus aculeatus 150

239. Sporobolus alopecuroides 151

240. Sporobolus ioclados 151

241. Sporobolus natalensis 152

242. Sporobolus niliacus 152

243. Sporobolus pungens 153

244. Sporobolus schoenoides 153

245. Sporobolus spicatus 154

246. Sporobolus wrightii 154

247. Stenotaphrum secundatum 155

248. Stipa arabica 155

249. Stipa lagascae 156

250. Stipagrostis acutiflora 156

251. Stipagrostis ciliata 157
x • SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO BOTANY

252. Stipagrostis drarii 157

253. Stipagrostis hirtigluma 158

254. Stipagrostis lanata 158

255. Stipagrostis multinerva 159

256. Stipagrostis obtusa 159

257. Stipagrostis paradisea 160

258. Stipagrostis plumosa 160

259. Stipagrostis raddiana 161

260. Stipagrostis scoparia 161

261. Stipagrostis shawii 162

262. Stipagrostis uniplumis 162

263. Stipagrostis vulnerans 163

264. Stipellula capensis 163

265. Stipellula parviflora 164

266. Taeniatherum caput-medusae 165

267. Tetrapogon cenchriformis 165

268. Tetrapogon villosus 166

269. Themeda triandra 166

270. Themeda villosa 167

271. Tragus berteronianus 167

272. Tragus racemosus 168

273. Tricholaena teneriffae 168

274. Trichoneura mollis 169

275. Triplachne nitens 169

276. Triraphis pumilio 170

277. Trisetaria glumacea 170

278. Trisetaria koelerioides 171

279. Trisetaria linearis 171

280. Trisetaria macrochaeta 172

281. Triticum aestivum and Triticum dicoccum 172

282. Triticum turgidum and Triticum durum 173

283. Triticum pyramidale 174

284. Urochloa deflexa 174

285. Urochloa leersioides 175

286. Urochloa mutica 175

287. Urochloa panicoides 176

288. Urochloa ramosa 177

289. Urochloa reptans 177

290. Vossia cuspidata 178

291. Zea mays 178

292. Zea mays subsp. mexicana 179
INTRODUCTION

The grasses (asháb, باشعأ (have played an important role in the daily life and economy of Egypt for more than 12,000 years (Boulos and Fahmy, 2007). The cultivation 

of cereals for making bread and the use of reed grasses for making baskets, mats, arrows, and building materials has been handed down through humans for centuries. Three 

hundred years before the Christian era, Theophrastus, a Greek scholar, used the term 

Πóα to include fodder grasses. The first scientific subdivision of the family was made by 

Brown (1814), who recognized two different spikelet types between Panicoideae and 

Pooideae (Festucoideae). Bentham (1881) recognized 13 tribes in two subfamilies. The 

two-subfamily classification was used by most agrostologists for almost 150 years until 

more modern syntheses. With the infusion of molecular data, the present concept and 

classification of the grasses is changing at a rapid rate. We follow the grass classification 

presented in Soreng et al. (2015a, 2015b) that consists of ±12,074 species in 771 genera 

found in 12 subfamilies, 51 tribes, and 80 subtribes. We provide a synopsis of the classification for all grass genera that occur in Egypt (Table 1).

Muschler (1912) discusses the history of botanical discovery, suggesting Ascherson 

and Schweinfurth’s (1887) study of the indigenous vegetation was the foundation for 

future systematic work on botany of Egypt. Subsequent floristic treatments of the grasses 

of Egypt have been done by Täckholm and Täckholm (1941), Täckholm (1956, 1974), 

Ibrahim and Kabuye (1998), and Cope (2005). Cope and Hosni (1991) presented a comprehensive key to the grasses of Egypt, and the first key utilizing vegetative characters was 

completed by Hosni and Ibrahim (2004). The latter work pertained only to the grasses of 

the northwestern coastal region and lacked descriptions and illustrations of the species.

The most accurate way to identify grasses is to use floral characteristics. However, 

it is often necessary to identify grasses without having mature plants or only portions 

of those plants without complete spikelets. Under such conditions conventional botanical manuals offer little assistance. Moreover, identification using floral characteristics 

requires special training in grass taxonomy that is not available to most agronomists, 

technical field staff, and/or interested amateurs. Vegetative characters can be used for 

plant identification until a flowering specimen is obtained for positive verification. Vegetative structures of the grasses are easily visible and do not require any tool except a 

pocket hand lens (10–14×). Some vegetative characters are not particularly constant, so 

Grasses of Egypt

Kamal M. Ibrahim,1 Hasnaa A. Hosni,2 and Paul M. Peterson1*

1

 Department of Botany, National Museum of 

Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, P.O. 

Box 37012, MRC 166,Washington, D.C. 20013-

7012, USA. 

2 Department of Botany and Microbiology and 

The Herbarium, Faculty of Science, Cairo University, Giza 12613, Egypt. 

* Correspondence: P. M. Peterson, peterson@

si.edu

Manuscript received 2 June 2015; accepted 20 

August 2015.
2 • SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO BOTANY

TABLE 1. Synopsis of the classification of the genera into subfamily, tribe, and subtribe for the grasses of Egypt.

Subfamily Aristidoideae

Tribe Aristideae: Aristida, Stipagrostis

Subfamily Arundinoideae

Tribe Arundineae: Arundo

Tribe Molinieae: Phragmites

Subfamily Chloridoideae

Tribe Centropodieae: Centropodia

Tribe Cynodonteae: Dactyloctenium, Halopyrum

 Subtribe Aeluropodinae: Aeluropus

 Subtribe Eleusininae: Chloris, Coelachyrum, Cynodon, Dinebra, 

 Diplachne, Eleusine, Schoenefeldia, Tetrapogon

 Subtribe Gymnopogoninae: Leptothrium

 Subtribe Traginae: Tragus

 Subtribe Trichoneurinae: Trichoneura

 Subtribe Tripogoninae: Desmostachya, Melanocenchris

Tribe Eragrostideae

 Subtribe Cotteinae: Enneapogon, Schmidtia

 Subtribe Eragrostidinae: Eragrostis

Tribe Triraphideae: Triraphis

Tribe Zoysieae

 Subtribe Sporobolinae: Sporobolus

Subfamily Danthonioideae

Tribe Danthonieae: Cortaderia, Schismus

Subfamily Oryzoideae

Tribe Ehrharteae: Ehrharta

Tribe Oryzeae

 Subtribe Oryzinae: Leersia, Oryza

Subfamily Panicoideae

Tribe Andropogoneae: Chrysopogon, Imperata, Pogonatherum

 Subtribe Andropogoninae: Andropogon, Hyparrhenia

 Subtribe Anthistiriinae: Cymbopogon, Dichanthium, Themeda

 Subtribe Coicinae: Coix

 Subtribe Rottboelliinae: Elionurus, Hemarthria, Lasiurus, Vossia

 Subtribe Saccharinae: Miscanthus, Saccharum

 Subtribe Sorghinae: Sorghum

 Subtribe Tripsacinae: Zea

Tribe Paniceae

 Subtribe Anthephorinae: Digitaria

 Subtribe Boivinellinae: Echinochloa

 Subtribe Cenchrinae: Cenchrus, Setaria, Stenotaphrum

 Subtribe Melinidinae: Melinis, Megathyrsus, Moorochloa, 

 Tricholaena, Urochloa

 Subtribe Panicinae: Panicum

Tribe Paspaleae

 Subtribe Paspalinae: Paspalum

Tribe Tristachyideae: Danthoniopsis

Subfamily Pooideae

Tribe Brachypodieae: Brachypodium

Tribe Bromeae: Bromus

Tribe Lygeeae: Lygeum

Tribe Meliceae: Melica

Tribe Poeae

 Subtribe Agrostidinae: Agrostis, Ammophila, Gastridium, 

 Polypogon, Triplachne

 Subtribe Ammochloinae: Ammochloa

 Subtribe Airinae: Corynephorus 

 Subtribe Aveninae: Avena, Lagurus, Rostraria, Trisetaria

 Subtribe Brizinae: Briza

 Subtribe Cynosurinae: Cynosurus

 Subtribe Dactylidinae: Dactylis, Lamarckia

 Subtribe Holcinae: Holcus

 Subtribe Loliinae: Lolium

 Subtribe Parapholiinae: Catapodium, Cutandia, Desmazeria, 

 Parapholis, Sphenopus

 Subtribe Phalaridinae: Phalaris

 Subtribe Poinae: Alopecurus, Festuca, Phleum, Poa 

Tribe Stipeae: Oloptum, Piptatherum, Stipa, Stipellula

Tribe Triticeae

 Subtribe Hordeinae: Agropyron, Crithopsis, Elymus, 

 Eremopyrum, Hordeum, Taeniatherum

 Subtribe Triticinae: Aegilops, Triticum
NUMBER 103 • 3

it is important to use characters that are less mutable and subject 

to environmental influences.

Any given species may have one or more common names. 

Two or more grass species may have the same common name, 

and some species have no common name. Most of the local common names reported in this publication are of Arabic origin used 

in Egypt, whereas common names used in other countries of 

North Africa and the Middle East are not included. A common 

name can often help collectors and field officers tentatively identify a grass, particularly when local people have used a common 

name to describe a grass. We include the common names used in 

Täckholm (1974), Cope (2005), and files at the Cairo University 

Herbarium (CAI).

This publication presents a key, descriptions, illustrations, and 

glossary for the identification of 284 native and naturalized grasses 

that occur in Egypt. The list of species is primarily based on Cope’s 

(2005) treatment of the Gramineae of Egypt. We have consulted 

many taxonomic treatments during the preparation of this work, 

most notable are: Bor (1968), Boulous (1995, 2005), Chaudhary 

(1989), Clayton et al. (2006), Cope (1982, 2005, 2007), Forman 

and Perrson (1974), Häfliger and Scholz (1980, 1981), Ibrahim 

and Peterson (2014), Liu et al. (2014), Peterson et al. (2003; 2010, 

2011, 2012, 2014a; 2014b; 2014c;2014d; 2015), Phillips (1995), 

Romaschenko et al. (2012), Saarela et al. (2014), Sherif and Siddiqi (1988), Täckholm (1956, 1974), and Wickens (1977). 

We follow the accepted names in the Catalogue of New 

World Grasses (Soreng et al., 2015a) and a worldwide generic 

classification based principally on molecular DNA sequence 

studies (Soreng et al., 2015b). Vegetative characteristics are used 

to construct the key for identification. Diagrammatic illustrations are presented for each species to emphasize the structural 

characteristics. Descriptions of species are presented in alphabetical order, and indexes to the scientific and common names 

and a glossary are included. 

Morphological Character

The common grass habit for most species is an upright, cylindrical, rarely compressed culm (stem) anchored in the soil by 

adventitious roots (Figure 1). The culm consists of nodes and 

internodes with leaves distichously arising from the nodes. The 

inflorescence usually comprises numerous spikelets that are composed of one or more florets that contain the flower parts (pistil 

and stamens). The general morphology of a grass is shown in 

detail in Figures 1–8.

Roots. The luxuriant fibrous root system anchors the 

growing grass plant and is composed of adventitious roots originating from the lower culm nodes (Figure 2). In some grasses 

additional prop roots emerge from the lower culm nodes just 

above ground level. Most grasses with geniculate culms root at 

the lower nodes.

Rhizomes. A rhizome is a more or less horizontal 

underground stem whose leaves are reduced to scales. Eventually, 

it emerges above the ground surface to form a new flowering 

shoot or culm.

Stolons. Stolons are trailing or reclining, aboveground stems that produce roots and flowering shoots from their 

nodes.

Culms. The grass stem is known as a culm (Figure 1) 

and consists of a series of internodes and nodes. The internodes 

at the base of a culm are very short, and in the upper portion 

of a culm they extend to a considerable length. Internodes are 

usually hollow but sometimes are solid as in Saccharum or filled 

with white pith as in Sorghum. The plant height varies considerably because of the stage of growth, environmental conditions, 

and the species genetic makeup. Culms are mostly glabrous, particularly the sections enveloped by the leaf sheaths. Nodes vary, 

and in some species they are hairy, whereas in other they are 

glabrous.

Branching is from the buds situated below the leaf sheath 

at the nodes. Branching usually occurs only at basal nodes or 

from basal, middle, and upper nodes. If the shoot initial remains 

within the sheath that envelops the node, the branching is intravaginal. If the shoot initial grows laterally in a manner that ruptures the enveloping sheath, the branching habit is extravaginal. 

Branches from the base of the plant are known as tillers. 

Leaves. A grass leaf is divided into the following 

parts: the leaf sheath (at the base) and the blade, also known as 

the lamina.

Sheaths. The leaf sheath originates at a node and 

protects the growing zone of the internode and structurally 

strengthens the culm. Sheaths are usually open, sometimes split 

with overlapping margins or with margins fused for all or part 

of their length. The sheath may be compressed or round or occasionally keeled at the midrib. In some species, sheaths are longer 

than the blades, and in a few species they are longer than the adjacent internodes. Usually, sheaths are of a paler shade of green 

than the blades and are often tinged with pink or purple at the 

base. They are also tinted, with darker color near the blades. The 

tints are not consistent enough to be of much value in identification. Presence or absence of hairs on the sheath margins, surface, 

and the junction with the blade is an important characteristic for 

use in the identification (Figure 3).

Auricles. Auricles are appendages that project from 

each side of the collar that marks the divisions between the 

sheath and blade. Auricles may be horizontally clawed, rudimentary, and fully or slightly rounded. Most species do not possess 

auricles (Figure 3).

Ligules. A ligule is a tissue clasping the stem or bud 

shoots, inside the leaf at the junction of the blade and sheath on 

the adaxial (adjacent) surface. Ligules are usually present, and 

they may be simply a fringe of hairs, membranous or hyaline, 

ciliolate or ciliate membrane, or absent. The length of ligules 

may vary within a species (Figure 4). The shape and margin are 

usually quite constant, and they provide reliable distinguishing 

characteristics for identification.
4 • SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO BOTANY

Collars. The collar is also found at the junction between the blade and the sheath (Figure 3). It may be vertically 

broad or narrow, continuous, or divided by a midrib. If the collar 

extends diagonally, it is referred to as oblique. Collars are usually 

smooth but may be hairy over the whole surface or only on the 

inner and lowermost portion of the margin. Collars are usually 

green or yellowish green and may be tinged with yellow or red.

Blades. The blade or lamina is the upper portion of 

the leaf above the collar, ligule, and auricle. There is considerable variation in the length and the width of the blades, and the 

ratio between these two characteristics is useful for identification 

(Figures 5, 6). Blades are usually linear to lanceolate, but in some 

species, blades are filiform or ovate. There is a great deal of variation among species in the shape of the blade apex and base and 

FIGURE 1. General morphology. a. Culm. b. Rhizome and stolon. c. Sheath, ligule, and blade.
NUMBER 103 • 5

hairiness of the upper and lower surfaces and margins. Blade venation is usually parallel, although sometimes there are evident 

cross veins. Frequently, there are considerable differences between 

blades from the upper and lower parts of the same plant and between blades taken from different plants of the same species.

Reproductive Structures. The spikelet is the 

characteristic floral structure in grasses. In most of the grass 

species, the inflorescence comprises numerous spikelets that are 

aligned in different sequences. In this study, the different types of 

inflorescences, spikelet shapes, and awn types are included. In the 

vegetative key no reference is made to the detailed spikelet parts.

Inflorescences. Different inflorescence types 

are distinguished by the presence or absence of pedicels and 

the branching of the main axis. Aside from the basic forms of 

FIGURE 2. Growth forms. A. Erect. B. Geniculate. C. Prostrate. D. Decumbent.
6 • SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO BOTANY

a spike, raceme, and panicle, there are many subtypes (Figures 7, 8).

Spikes. In a spike the spikelets are attached directly 

(sessile) to the unbranched main axis without pedicels. Most 

members of the tribe Triticeae have this type of inflorescence. 

Racemes. A raceme is an unbranched inflorescence 

with each spikelet borne on a single pedicels directly on the axis. 

This type of inflorescence is rare in the grasses, but there are 

many species for which more than one raceme is found in the 

inflorescence, which is then technically referred to as a panicle.

Panicles. A panicle is an inflorescence in which the 

main axis has several lateral, whorled or individual indeterminate branches, with each branch terminating in a pedicellate 

spikelet. A true panicle does not have any leaf sheaths within the 

inflorescence. A rame is a compound inflorescence in the tribe 

Andropogoneae consisting of one to many units (branches) of 

one sessile and one or two pedicellate spikelets. This arrangement is typical of the Andropogoneae and in many of the older 

published floras was referred to as “racemes.”

Phytogeograph

Phytogeographical territories for Egypt were first delineated 

by Hassib (1950), and later, El Hadidi (1980) introduced some 

minor changes to the eight phytogeographic (ecologic) territories, two of which had subdivisions. Our phytogeographic map 

FIGURE 3. Types of sheaths, auricles, and collars.
NUMBER 103 • 7

of Egypt (Figure 9) includes these same eight territories, and 

these are divided into 17 total regions following El Hadidi and 

Hosni (2000) and El Hadidi (2000a; 2000b). We include each 

grass species distribution in these territories and subdivisions in 

Egypt (in parentheses) and then indicate their general distribution in surrounding countries or areas. 

Identificatio

Descriptions. The grass descriptions were recorded from plant specimens at the U.S. National Herbarium 

(US), Department of Botany, National Museum of Natural 

History, Smithsonian Institution and CAI, Cairo University, 

Cairo, Egypt, and a few specimens on loan from Kew and the 

British Museum. Information from these specimens was verified 

with the descriptions of species reported in the references. Each 

description (arranged alphabetically) includes the complete scientific name with authorities and place of publication and common name(s), if known (Arabic italicized, followed by English). 

Introduced species are marked with an asterisk (*), and native 

species are unmarked.

Illustrations. Plant illustrations used in this study 

were drawn from herbarium plant specimens and verified against 

illustrations appearing in several references. Care should be taken 

FIGURE 4. Ligule types, shapes, and margins.
8 • SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO BOTANY

not to confuse grasses with “grasslike” species that occur under 

natural conditions and can be confused with true grasses. These 

belong chiefly to the sedge family (Cyperaceae) and the rush family (Juncaceae). Since this publication deals only with grasses, it 

is necessary to differentiate between true grasses and other grasslike species. In grasses, leaves are two-ranked and arise at solid 

conspicuous nodes along hollow stems (culms), which are circular in cross section. A leaf is composed of a blade and a sheath 

surrounding the culm and open down the side, in most cases to 

the base. Commonly, the top of the sheath has a membranous 

projection (ligule) pressed against the culm. Sometimes the ligule 

is represented by a fringe of hairs or a shallow rim. In other cases 

it is absent. In contrast to grasses, the majority of sedges have 

solid stems that are mostly triangular in cross section. The base 

of the leaf usually forms a closed sheath around the stem, and 

there is no ligule. However, sometimes there is a projection at the 

top of the sheath, opposite the leaf blade, instead of between the 

blade and the culm as with grass species. Rushes have solid stems 

and are usually round in cross section, and the nodes are indistinct. The leaves of rushes are usually three-ranked and usually 

FIGURE 5. Leaf blade apices, bases, and margins.
NUMBER 103 • 9

not stiff; ligules are absent or weakly developed, and auricles are 

absent.

Keys. Since we are dealing with 284 grasses in 

Egypt, the keys have been constructed to make use of easily 

visible characteristics. The only additional aids necessary are 

a short metric scale, graduated in millimeters, and a hand lens 

with a magnification of 10–14×. The identification key is composed of two parts: a key to major groups and then a key to 

each group. Although many readers are familiar with the use of 

a dichotomous key, a note on use seems appropriate here. The 

key contains a series of two contrasting statements. Start with 

the beginning of the key and read both groups of characteristics 

in couplet 1, then decide which group fits the specimen best and 

note the number following the group. Proceed to the couplet 

with that number and repeat the process. Read each entry in 

the couplet carefully before deciding which description best fits 

the specimen. Following this pattern, you will arrive at the stop 

in the key where a species name appears at the end of an entry. 

Turn to the text for a description and illustration of the species, 

which are arranged alphabetically. In using the key you may 

FIGURE 6. Leaf blade characteristics.
1 0 • SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO BOTANY

need to refer to the glossary, which immediately follows the 

descriptions (Quattrocchi, 2006).

Acknowledgmen

We thank the U.S. National Herbarium (US), Department 

of Botany, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian 

Institution for allowing the first author work space; the staff of 

Cairo University Herbarium (CAI) in Giza; Robert J. Soreng 

(US) for providing valuable information from the Catalogue 

of New World Grasses (Poaceae); Deborah Bell (US) for assistance; John G. Fitzsimons, University of Guelph, Guelph, 

Ontario, Canada, for his valuable advice and financial contributions; and Naiim Moselhy, director of the Desert Research 

FIGURE 7. Inflorescence types.
NUMBER 103 • 1 1

Center. In addition, we thank Kitt Repass for preparing the illustrations and revising a few initial drawings made by Heidi 

Nevin, Dhan Bhandari, and Magdalena Sudnik. We give special thanks to Karen Dillon and Alice Tangerini for help with 

Photoshop, to Kate Nicolette for typing the text, and to Adel 

El-Gazzar and Monier M. Abd El-Ghani for many helpful comments aimed at improving the manuscript.

FIGURE 8. Inflorescence and spikelet characteristics. Labels indicate the following: a, spikelet; b, lemma; 

c, upper glume; d, lower glume; e, pedicel; f, palea; g, anther; h, stigma; i, filament; j, ovary; k, lodicule; l, 

grain; m, rachilla; n, awn; o, raceme; p, peduncle; q, spatheole; r, spathe; s, single straight awn; t, single 

geniculated awn; u, twisted divided awn.
1 2 • SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO BOTANY

FIGURE 9. Phytogeographical territories of Egypt. Da: Arabian Desert, the southern province of the desert east of the Nile; Dg: 

Galala Desert, the northern province of the desert east of the Nile; Di: Isthmic Desert, the northern part of Sinai Peninsula, south 

of the Mediterranean coastal land and its extension westward to the Nile Delta; Dl: Libyan Desert, the northern province of the 

desert west of the Nile; Dn: Nubian Desert, the southern province of the desert west of the Nile; Ge: Gebel Elba district, at the 

southeast corner of the Arabian Desert; Mm: Mareotis sector of the Mediterranean coastal land extending along the Egypt–Libyan 

border, eastward to Rosetta; Ms: Sinaitic sector of the Mediterranean coastal land extending between Port Said eastward to Rafah 

at the Egyptian–Palestinian border; Nn: Nubian sector of Nile land, extending from Sudanese border northward to Kom Ombo; 

Nv: Nile Valley sector of Nile land, extending from Kom Ombo northward to include the Nile-fed Faiyum area and the Nile Delta 

with its extensions of reclaimed lands of Tahrir Province to the west and Salhiya district to the east; Ol: Oases of the Libyan Desert 

province; On: Oases of the Nubian Desert province; Ra: Arabian sector of the Red Sea coastal plains extending between 22°N and 

28°N; Rq: Gulf of Aqaba sector of the Red Sea coastal plains, which extends along the western coast of the Gulf of Aqaba between 

28°N and 29°30°N; Rz: Gulf of Suez sector of the Red Sea coastal plains in the Eastern Desert and Sinai between 28°N and 30°N; 

S: mountainous southern Sinai; Ug: Gebel `Uweinat massive on Egypt’s border with Libya and Sudan and the northerly situated El 

Gilf El Kebir plateau.
1a. Culms bamboo-like or reeds  . . . 

1b. Culms not bamboo-like or reeds  

2a. Plants mat forming  . . . 

2b. Plants not mat forming  

3a. Rhizomes knotty  . . . 

3b. Rhizomes not knotty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

4a. Internodes solid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Group 4

4b. Internodes not solid  

5a. Lower nodes rooting  . . . 

5b. Lower nodes not rooting  

6a. Butt sheaths forming a bulb-like base  . . . 

6b. Butt sheaths not forming a bulb-like base  

7a. Stolons present  . . .

7b. Stolons not present  

8a. Leaf apices pungent  . . . 

8b. Leaf apices not pungent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

9a. Internodes hirsute, hispid, pubescent, or sparsely hairy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9A

9b. Internodes not hirsute, hispid, pubescent, or sparsely hairy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

10a. Culm internodes scabrous  . . . .

10b. Culm internodes not scabrous  .

11a. Leaf blade surfaces ribbed or pleated . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Group 11

11b. Leaf blade surfaces not ribbed or pleated  .

12a. Rhizomes present . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Group 12

12b. Rhizomes absent  .

13a. Leaf sheaths longer than the blades  . . . .

13b. Leaf sheaths not longer than the blades . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

14a. Ligules ciliate or ciliolate membranes  . . . .

14b. Ligules not ciliate or ciliolate membranes . 

15a. Leaf blades filiform  . . . .

15b. Leaf blades not filiform  .

16a. Ligules 6–10 mm long . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Group 16

16b. Ligules not 6–10 mm long . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

17a. Auricles present . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Group 17

17b. Auricles absent  .

18a. Leaf sheaths keeled or flattened . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Group18

18b. Leaf sheaths not keeled or flattened  .

Vegetative Key to the Grasses of Egypt
1 4 • SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO BOTANY

19a. Ligules a fringe of hairs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Group19

19b. Ligules not a fringe of hairs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

20a. Leaf blade apices attenuate  . . . .

20b. Leaf blade apices not attenuate  .

21a. Nodes bearded  . . . .

21b. Nodes not bearded  . 

22a. Leaf blade margins glabrous, smooth  . . . .

22b. Leaf blade margins not glabrous or smooth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

23a. Ligules absent or less than 3 mm long . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Group 23

23b. Ligules 3–6 mm long . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Group 24

GROUP 1. CULMS BAMBOO OR REEDLIKE

1a. Internodes solid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (210) Saccharum officinarum

1b. Internodes not solid  

2a. Auricles clawlike  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

2b. Auricles not clawlike . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

3a. Ligules 10–30 mm long . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (14) Ammophila arenaria

3b. Ligules not 10–30 mm long . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

4a. Leaves distichous . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (19) Arundo donax

4b. Leaves not distichous . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

5a. Collars dark, leaf blade surfaces scabrous  . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

5b. Collars not dark, leaf blade surfaces glabrous  . . . . . . . . . . . . .

GROUP 2. MAT FORMING

1a. Butt sheaths forming a bulb . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (91) Dactyloctenium scindicum

1b. Butt sheaths not forming a bulb . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

2a. Leaf blade surfaces viscid  . . . . . . . . . . . . 

2b. Leaf blade surfaces not viscid  

3a. Auricles clawlike  . . . . . . . . . . 

3b. Auricles not clawlike . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

4a. Collars dark . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (183) Paspalum distichum

4b. Collars not dark  

5a. Ligules erose-dentate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (101) Digitaria violascens

5b. Ligules not erose-dentate  

6a. Culms spongy  . . . . . . . . . . .

6b. Culm not spongy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

7a. Leaf blades lanceolate  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

7b. Leaf blade not lanceolate  

8a. Leaf blade margins glandular . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (53) Cenchrus longisetus

8b. Leaf blade margins not glandular  

9a. Leaf blade surfaces hairy  . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

9b. Leaf blade surfaces not hairy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

10a. Ligules ciliolate membrane  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

10b. Ligules not ciliolate membrane  .

11a. Leaf blades needlelike  . . . . . . . . . . .

11b. Leaf blades not needlelike  .

12a. Nodes dark colored  . . . . . . . . . . . . 

12b. Nodes not dark colored . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

13a. Leaves distichous . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (234) Sporobolus pungens

13b. Leaves not distichous . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

14a. Leaf blade apices acute  . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

14b. Leaf blade apices not acute  .
NUMBER 103 • 1 5

15a. Rhizomes short, less than 3 mm long . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (131) Eragrostis sarmentosa

15b. Rhizomes much longer  .

16a. Stolons present  . . . . . . . . . . . . .

16b. Stolons absent  . . . . . . . . . . . . 

GROUP 3. RHIZOME KNOTTY

1a. Culms woody, internodes glabrous  . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1b. Culms not woody, internodes hairy  

2a. Leaf blades deciduous at the ligules, surfaces ribbed  . . . . . . . . . . . . 

2b. Leaf blades deciduous at the ligules, surfaces not ribbed  . . . . . . . . . . . . .

ALTERNATIVE KEY TO GROUP 3

1a. Leaf surfaces glandular  . . . . . . . . . . . . 

1b. Leaf surfaces not glandular  

2a. Leaf blades lanceolate  . . . . . . . . . . . . .

2b. Leaf blades not lanceolate  . . . . . . . . . . . . .

GROUP 4. INTERNODES SOLID

1a. Culms woody  . . . . . . . . . . .

1b. Culms not woody  

2a. Leaf sheaths strongly compressed  . . . . . . . . . . . . .

2b. Leaf sheaths not compressed  

3a. Rhizomes elongated, ligules ciliate membranes  . . . . . . . . . . . . .

3b. Rhizomes absent, ligules eciliate membranes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

4a. Leaf sheaths longer than adjacent internodes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

4b. Leaf sheaths shorter than adjacent internodes  

5a. Culms branched, leaf blades linear lanceolate  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

5b. Culms not branched, leaf blades linear  . . . . . . .

6a. Culm nodes dark colored  . . . . . . . . . .

6b. Culm nodes not dark colored  

GROUP 5. ROOTING AT THE LOWER NODES

1a. Culms with bulb-like bases  . . . . . . . . . . 

1b. Culms without bulb-like bases  

2a. Culm internodes scabrous  . . . . . . . . . . . .

2b. Culm internodes not scabrous  

3a. Culm internodes sparsely hairy  . . . . . . . . . . .

3b. Culm internodes glabrous or pubescent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

4a. Leaf blade apices obtuse  . . . . . . . . . . . 

4b. Leaf blade apices simple  

5a. Ligule truncate  . . . . . . . . . . . .

5b. Ligule not truncate  

6a. Leaf blade margins tuberculate  . . . . . . . . . . . . 

6b. Leaf blades margins not tuberculate  

7a. Ligules erose  . . . . . . . . . . . . .

7b. Ligules not erose  

8a. Culms spongy  

8b. Culms not spongy  .

9a. Culm nodes glabrous, dark colored  . . . . . . . . . . . . .

9b. Culm nodes bearded, not dark colored  . . . . . . . . . . . . 
1 6 • SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO BOTANY

10a. Leaf blade margins cartilaginous . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

10b. Leaf blade margins not cartilaginous . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

11a. Leaf blade surfaces hairy both sides  . . . . . . . . . . 

11b. Leaf blade surfaces glabrous  . . . . . . . . . . .

12a. Leaf sheath surfaces scabrous  . . . . . . . . . . . . 

12b. Leaf sheath surfaces not scabrous  .

13a. Leaf sheath surfaces and margins sparsely hairy  . . . . . . . . . .

13b. Leaf sheath surfaces and margins not sparsely hairy  .

14a. Culm internodes pubescent  .

14b. Culm internodes glabrous  .

15a. Auricles clawlike  . . . . . . . . . . .

15b. Auricles absent  . . . . . . . . . . . 

16a. Ligules a fringe of hairs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (60) Cenchrus violaceus

16b. Ligules not a fringe of hair . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

17a. Auricles clawlike  . 

17b. Auricles absent  .

18a. Leaf apices attenuate, plants aquatic  . . . . . . . . . . 

18b. Leaf apices acuminate, plant not aquatic  . . . . . . . . . . . . 

19a. Ligules eciliate membranes  . . . . . . . . . . . 

19b. Ligules ciliate membranes  .

20a. Leaf blades filiform  . . . . . . . . . . 

20b. Leaf blades not filiform  .

21a. Leaf blades lanceolate  . . . . . . . . . . . . .

21b. Leaf blades linear . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

22a. Leaf blade margins glabrous  .

22b. Leaf blade margins not glabrous  .

23a. Stolons present, oral hairs lacking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (64) Chloris gayana

23b. Stolons absent, oral hairs ciliate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (67) Chloris virgata

24a. Leaf blades apices attenuate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (223) Sorghum arundinaceum

24b. Leaf blade linear, apices acute  .

25a. Culms sparsely branched, blade bases rounded  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

25b. Culms unbranched, blade bases simple  .

26a. Leaf sheath surfaces glabrous  . . . . . . . . . . . 

26b. Leaf sheath surfaces hairy  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

GROUP 6. BUTT SHEATHS FORMING BULBS

1a. Culm nodes bearded  . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1b. Culm nodes not bearded  

2a. Leaf blade bases broadly rounded  . . . . . . . . . . . 

2b. Leaf blade bases simple  

3a. Ligules ciliate membranes; rhizomes elongated  . . . . . . . . . .

3b. Ligules not ciliate membranes; rhizome absent or short . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

4a. Ligules a fringe of hairs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

4b. Ligules eciliate membranes  

5a. Leaf blades viscid, pubescent both sides . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (214) Schmidtia pappophoroides

5b. Leaf blades not viscid, surfaces sparsely hairy  . . . . . . . . . . 

6a. Oral hairs ciliate, leaf sheath margins hairy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (98) Digitaria nodosa

6b. Oral hairs lacking, leaf sheath margins not hairy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

7a. Leaf blade apices abruptly acute, ligules acute  . . . . . . . . 

7b. Leaf blade apices acute, ligules erose, dentate  

8a. Culm internodes striate; leaf sheath margins hyaline . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (188) Phalaris coerulescens

8b. Culm internodes smooth; leaf sheath margins membranous  . . . . . . . . . . . 
NUMBER 103 • 1 7

GROUP 7. STOLONS PRESENT

1a. Leaf blades lanceolate, butt sheaths woolly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (8) Aeluropus lagopoides

1b. Leaf blades not lanceolate, butt sheath not woolly  

2a. Leaf blades filiform  

2b. Leaf blades not filiform  

3a. Culm internodes densely pubescent, blades straight  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

3b. Culm internodes glabrous, blades curly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (144) Halopyrum mucronatum

4a. Ligules a fringe of hairs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (231) Sporobolus ioclados

4b. Ligules ciliate or ciliolate membranes  

5a. Rhizomes present . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

5b. Rhizomes absent  

6a. Butt sheaths pubescent, oral hairs ciliate  . . . . . . . . . .

6b. Butt sheath glabrous, oral hairs lacking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (9) Aeluropus littoralis

7a. Culms spongy  . . . . . . . . . . . . 

7b. Culms not spongy  

8a. Culm internodes striate, leaf blade margins smooth  . . . . . . . . . 

8b. Culm internodes not striate, leaf blade margins scabrous  . . . . . . . . . . . . 

GROUP 8. LEAF BLADE APICES PUNGENT

1a. Butt sheaths woolly  . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1b. Butt sheaths not woolly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

2a. Internodes hirsute  . . . . . . . . . . . . 

2b. Internodes not hirsute  

3a. Nodes bearded  . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

3b. Nodes not bearded  

4a. Leaf sheaths compressed or keeled . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

4b. Leaf sheaths not compressed or keeled  

5a. Culms woody, internodes smooth; oral hairs ciliate  . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

5b. Culms not woody, internodes striate; oral hairs lacking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (251) Stipagrostis scoparia

6a. Leaf sheaths much longer than leaf blade  . . . . . . . . . . . . 

6b. Leaf sheaths not much longer than leaf blade  

7a. Auricles clawlike  . . . . . . . . . . . .

7b. Auricles not clawlike . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

8a. Rhizomes absent  . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

8b. Rhizomes present . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

9a. Culm internodes smooth, later branches ample, ligules acute  . . . . . . . . . . .

9b. Culm internodes striate, not branched, ligules lacerate  . . . . . . . . . .

GROUP 9. CULM INTERNODES HAIRY

1a. Internodes hirsute, villous, or hispid .... . . . . .

1b. Internodes pubescent or sparsely hairy  . . . . .

SUBGROUP 9A. INTERNODES HIRSUTE, VILLOUS, OR HISPID

1a. Rootstocks evident, culms woody  . . . . . . . . . . . .

1b. Rootstocks lacking, culms not woody  

2a. Ligules ciliate membranes  . . . . . . . . . . . 

2b. Ligules not ciliate membranes  

3a. Culm nodes bearded  . . . . . . . . . . . . .

3b. Culm nodes not bearded  
1 8 • SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO BOTANY

4a. Rhizomes elongated  . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

4b. Rhizomes absent  

5a. Leaf blade curled or flexuous . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (245) Stipagrostis lanata

5b. Leaf blade straight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

6a. Leaf blade apices attenuate, filiform  

6b. Leaf blade apices not attenuate, filiform  

7a. Leaf sheaths ribbed, blade surfaces scabrous . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (246) Stipagrostis multinerva

7b. Leaf sheaths not ribbed, blade surface pubescent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (252) Stipagrostis shawii

8a. Leaf sheaths tubular most of their length  . . . . . . . . . . .

8b. Leaf sheaths open  

9a. Ligules erose serrate  . . . . . . . . . . . .

9b. Ligules lacerate  .

10a. Midrib conspicuous, leaf blade margins scabrous  . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

10b. Midrib not conspicuous, leaf blade margins ciliate  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

SUBGROUP 9B. INTERNODES PUBESCENT OR SPARSELY HAIRY

1a. Internodes sparsely hairy  

1b. Internodes not sparsely hairy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

2a. Rhizomes short and scaly, culm nodes bearded  . . . . . . . . . . .

2b. Rhizomes absent, culm nodes not bearded . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (113) Eleusine indica

3a. Ligules 6–8 mm long . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (239) Stipa arabica

3b. Ligules less than 6 mm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

4a. Rhizomes present . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

4b. Rhizomes absent  

5a. Rhizomes scaly, elongated, usually more than 2 cm long  . . . . . . . . . . . 

5b. Rhizomes scaly, short . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

6a. Oral hairs ciliate; leaf sheath surfaces sparsely hairy  . . . . . . . . . 

6b. Oral hairs lacking; leaf sheath surface glabrous . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (35) Bromus inermis

7a. Culms wiry from woody rootstock  . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

7b. Culms not wiry  

8a. Leaf blade apices obtuse  

8b. Leaf blade apices not obtuse  .

9a. Ligules eciliate membranes  . . . . . . . . . . .

9b. Ligules a fringe of hairs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (247) Stipagrostis obtusa

10a. Leaf blades apices attenuate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (278) Urochloa leersioides

10b. Leaf blade apices acute or acuminate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

11a. Ligules ciliate membranes  . . . . . . . . . .

11b. Ligules not ciliate membranes  .

12a. Ligules a fringe of hairs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

12b. Ligules eciliate membranes  .

13a. Leaf sheath surface glabrous  . . . . . . . . . . .

13b. Leaf sheath surface hairy  . . . . . . . . . . . . 

14a. Ligules truncate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (255) Stipellula capensis

14b. Ligules lacerate  . . . . . . . . . . .

GROUP 10. CULM INTERNODES SCABROUS

1a. Ligules a fringe of hairs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (72) Cortaderia selloana

1b. Ligules not a fringe of hairs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2

2a. Leaf sheaths much longer than leaf blades . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (270) Trisetaria linearis

2b. Leaf sheaths not much longer than leaf blades .

3a. Leaf sheaths tubular much of their lengths  . . . . . . . . . 

3b. Leaf sheaths not tubular  . . . . . . . . . . . .
NUMBER 103 • 1 9

ALTERNATIVE KEY TO GROUP 10

1a. Ligules a fringe of hairs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (72) Cortaderia selloana

1b. Ligules not a fringe of hairs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

2a. Leaf sheaths much longer than leaf blades . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (270) Trisetaria linearis

2b. Leaf sheaths not much longer than leaf blades  

3a. Leaf sheaths tubular much of their lengths  . . . . . . . . . 

3b. Leaf sheaths not tubular  . . . . . . . . . . . .

GROUP 11. LEAF BLADE SURFACE RIBBED OR PLEATED

1a. Auricles clawlike  . . . . . . . . . . .

1b. Auricles absent  

2a. Ligules a fringe of hairs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (218) Setaria megaphylla

2b. Ligules not a fringe of hairs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

3a. Ligules 3–6 mm long . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (195) Piptatherum holciforme

3b. Ligules less than 3 mm long . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

4a. Leaf sheaths flattened  

4b. Leaf sheaths not flattened  

5a. Leaf blades appressed, apices acute/acuminate  . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

5b. Leaf blades not appressed, apices attenuate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (181) Parapholis marginata

6a. Leaf blade apices filiform  . . . . . . . . . . . 

6b. Leaf blade apices acute or acuminate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

7a. Culms wiry, weak, ligules obtuse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (140) Festuca fasciculata

7b. Culms not wiry, tough, ligules lacerate  . . . . . . . . 

ALTERNATIVE KEY TO GROUP 11

1a. Rhizome elongated  . . . . . . . . . . . 

1b. Rhizome not elongated  

2a. Auricle clawlike . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (115) Elymus elongatus

2b. Auricle not clawlike  

3a. Ligule obtuse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (140) Festuca fasciculata

3b. Ligule not obtuse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 4

4a. Ligules a fringe of hairs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (218) Setaria megaphylla

4b. Ligule not a fringe of hairs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

5a. Leaf sheath closed  . . . . . . . . 

5b. Leaf sheath not closed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

6a. Leaf sheath margin entire  . . . . . . . . . . . . .

6b. Leaf sheath margin not entire  

7a. Leaf apex acute  . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

7b. Leaf apex not acute  . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

GROUP 12. RHIZOMES PRESENT

1a. Rhizomes short  . . . . .

1b. Rhizomes elongated  . . . . .

SUBGROUP 12A. RHIZOMES SHORT

1a. Ligules more than 6 mm long  . . . . . . . . . .

1b. Ligules less than 6 mm long . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

2a. Culms wiry, leaf blade margins cartilaginous . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (151) Hyparrhenia hirta

2b. Culms not wiry, leaf blade margins not cartilaginous . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
2 0 • SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO BOTANY

3a. Leaf sheaths flattened  . . . . . . . . . . . .

3b. Leaf sheaths not flattened  

4a. Leaf sheath surfaces scabrous  . . . . . . . . . . . . 

4b. Leaf sheath surfaces not scabrous  

5a. Ligules fringed hairs  

5b. Ligules ciliate or eciliate membranes  

6a. Culms tall, roots aromatic, leaf blade apices acuminate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (69) Chrysopogon zizanioides

6b. Culms woody, tough, roots not aromatic, leaf blade apices attenuate  . . . . . . . . . . . .

7a. Ligules ciliate membranes  . . . . . . . . . . . . 

7b. Ligules eciliate membranes  

8a. Culm nodes bearded  .

8b. Culm nodes glabrous . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

9a. Ligules more than 3 mm long  . . . . . . . . . . . . 

9b. Ligules less than 3 mm long . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (78) Cymbopogon citratus

10a. Culms with ample branches, ligules truncate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (112) Eleusine floccifolia

10b. Culms unbranched, ligules not truncate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

11a. Leaf blade surfaces glabrous, apices abruptly acute  . . . . . . . . . . . . .

11b. Leaf blade surface scabrous, apices acute  . . . . . . . . . . . 

SUBGROUP 12B. RHIZOMES ELONGATED

1a. Auricles clawlike  . . . . . . . . . 

1b. Auricles absent  

2a. Culm internodes striate, leaf sheath margins membranous  . . . . . . . . . . . 

2b. Culm internodes not striate, leaf sheath margins not membranous  

3a. Ligules a fringe of hairs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (94) Desmostachya bipinnata

3b. Ligule not a fringe of hairs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

4a. Ligules ciliate membranes  . . . . . . . . . .

4b. Ligules eciliate membranes  

5a. Culm nodes bearded, blade carriage appressed  . . . . . . . . . . . . 

5b. Culm nodes not bearded  .

6a. Leaf sheaths tubular for most of their length, ligules 6–10 mm long  . . . . . . . . . .

6b. Leaf sheaths not tubular, ligules 1–3 mm long  . . . . . . . . . . . . .

GROUP 13. LEAF SHEATHS LONGER THAN BLADES

1a. Leaf blade apices pungent  . . . . . . . . . . . . 

1b. Leaf blade not pungent  

2a. Leaf apices attenuate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

2b. Leaf apices not attenuate  

3a. Lower nodes rooting  . . . . . . . . . .

3b. Lower nodes not rooting  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

4a. Plants mat forming  

4b. Plants not mat forming  

5a. Culms branched, ligules a fringe of hairs  . . . . . . . . . . . . 

5b. Culms unbranched, ligules eciliate membrane  . . . . . . . . . . . 

6a. Culm internodes with ridges  . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

6b. Culm internodes without ridges . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

7a. Culm internodes semiterete  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

7b. Culm internodes terete . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

8a. Ligule apices acute . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (228) Sphenopus divaricatus

8b. Ligule apices not acute . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

9a. Culm nodes bearded  .

9b. Culm nodes not bearded  .

10a. Oral hair ciliate; leaf blades conduplicate  . . . . . . . . . . . . 
NUMBER 103 • 2 1

10b. Oral hairs lacking; leaf blades not conduplicate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

11a. Leaf blade linear, flat, spreading  . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

11b. Leaf blade filiform, ascending  . . . . . . . . . . . . .

12a. Culms branched . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

12b. Culms unbranched . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

13a. Auricles present . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (5) Aegilops longissima

13b. Auricles absent  .

14a. Ligules a fringe of hairs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (229) Sporobolus aculeatus

14b. Ligules eciliate membrane  . . . . . . . . . . . .

15a. Auricles present . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

15b. Auricles absent. .

16a. Oral hairs ciliate; leaf sheath surfaces sparsely hairy  . . . . . . . . . . .

16b. Oral hairs lacking; leaf sheath surfaces glabrous  . . . . . . . . . . .

17a. Ligules ciliate membrane  . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

17b. Ligules eciliate membranes or a fringe of hairs  .

18a. Ligules eciliate membrane  . . . . . . . . . . . 

18b. Ligules a fringe of hairs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

19a. Leaf blades linear . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (119) Enneapogon lophotrichus

19b. Leaf blades lanceolate  .

20a. Leaf blade bases simple  . . . . . . . . . . 

20b. Leaf blade bases broadly rounded  .

21a. Leaf sheath margins sparsely hairy  . . . . . . . . . . . . .

21b. Leaf blade margins membranous . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (263) Tragus racemosus

ALTERNATIVE KEY TO GROUP 13

1a. Ligules obtuse  . . . . . . . . . . . .

1b. Ligules not obtuse  

2a. Ligules acute  . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

2b. Ligules not acute  

3a. Leaf blades hairy on basal third . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (114) Elionurus royleanus

3b. Leaf blades not hairy on basal third  

4a. Ligules ciliolate membrane  

4b. Ligules not ciliolate membrane  

5a. Leaf sheaths keeled, culms wiry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (67) Chloris virgata

5b. Leaf sheaths not keeled, culms not wiry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (96) Dichanthium foveolatum

6a. Leaf blade apices attenuate  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

6b. Leaf blade apices not attenuate  

7a. Ligules dentate  . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

7b. Ligules not dentate  

8a. Leaf sheath margins sparsely hairy  . . . . . . . . . . . . .

8b. Leaf sheath margins not sparsely hairy  

9a. Leaf blade margins sparsely hairy  . . . . . . . . . . . . 

9b. Leaf blade margins not sparsely hairy  .

10a. Culm nodes dark colored  . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

10b. Culm nodes not dark colored  .

11a. Collars dark colored  . . . . . . . . . . . 

11b. Collar not dark colored . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

12a. Leaf blades conduplicate, rootstocks evident . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (4) Aegilops kotschyi

12b. Leaf blades not conduplicate, rootstocks not evident . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

13a. Ligules lacerate, blades glaucous  . . . . . . . . . . . 

13b. Ligules not lacerate, ligules not glaucous  .

14a. Culms prostrate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (229) Sporobolus aculeatus

14b. Culms not prostrate  .

15a. Leaf sheath margins membranous  .
2 2 • SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO BOTANY

15b. Leaf sheath margins not membranous . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

16a. Ligules a fringe of hairs, blades lanceolate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (263) Tragus racemosus

16b. Ligules eciliate membranes, blades linear  . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

17a. Leaf blade surfaces hairy on both sides  . . . . . . . . . . .

17b. Leaf blade surfaces not hairy on both sides  .

18a. Auricles clawlike  . . . . . . . . . . . 

18b. Auricles not clawlike . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

19a. Leaf sheath surfaces hairy  . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

19b. Leaf sheath surfaces not hairy  .

20a. Culm nodes bearded, leaf blade margins glabrous . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (242) Stipagrostis ciliata

20b. Culm nodes not bearded, leaf blade margins not glabrous . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

21a. Leaf blade apices pungent  . . . . . . . . . . . . 

21b. Leaf blade apices not pungent  .

22a. Leaf blades lanceolate  . . . . . . . . . . 

22b. Leaf blades not lanceolate  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

GROUP 14. LIGULES CILIATE OR CILIOLATE MEMBRANES

1a. Leaf blade apices obtuse  . . . . .

1b. Leaf blade apices not obtuse  

2a. Leaf blade apices attenuate, filiform, or abruptly acute  . . . . .

2b. Leaf blade apices acute or acuminate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Subgroup C

SUBGROUP 14A. LEAF BLADE APICES OBTUSE

1a. Leaf sheaths keeled  . . . . . . . . . . . 

1b. Leaf sheaths not keeled  

2a. Culm nodes dark colored  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

2b. Culm nodes not dark colored  . . . . . . . . . . . . 

SUBGROUP 14B. LEAF BLADE APICES ATTENUATE, FILIFORM, OR ABRUPTLY ACUTE

1a. Culms spongy  . . . . . . . . . . . . 

1b. Culms not spongy  

2a. Culms woody  . . . . . . . . . .

2b. Culms not woody  

3a. Culm internodes striate  . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

3b. Culm internodes not striate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

4a. Culm sheaths keeled  . . . . . . . . . . 

4b. Culm sheaths not keeled  

5a. Culm nodes dark colored  . . . . . . . . . . . . 

5b. Culm nodes not dark colored  

6a. Leaf blade lanceolate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (135) Eragrostis tremula

6b. Leaf blade linear or filiform . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

7a. Oral hairs ciliate  . . . . . . . . . . . 

7b. Oral hairs lacking  

8a. Leaf blade bases cordate  . . . . . . . . . . . . .

8b. Leaf blade bases simple  . . . . . . . . . . . . .

SUBGROUP 14C. LEAF BLADE APICES ACUTE OR ACUMINATE

1a. Leaf blade surfaces conspicuously plicate  . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1b. Leaf blade surfaces not plicate  

2a. Leaf blade margins glandular . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (125) Eragrostis cilianensis
NUMBER 103 • 2 3

2b. Leaf blade margins eglandular  

3a. Auricles present, clawlike  . . . . . . . . . . . 

3b. Auricles absent  

4a. Culms branched . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

4b. Culms unbranched . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

5a. Leaf blade lanceolate, culms bulb-like base  . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

5b. Leaf blade linear, culms not bulb-like base . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (174) Panicum coloratum

6a. Leaf blades filiform  

6b. Leaf blades linear . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

7a. Leaf blades ascending, revolute  . . . . . . . . . . . 

7b. Leaf blades spreading, conduplicate  . . . . . . . . . . . . 

8a. Culm nodes bearded  . . . . . . . . . . .

8b. Culm nodes not bearded  

9a. Leaf blades curled or flexuous  . . . . . . . . . . . . 

9b. Leaf blades straight or flaccid  . 

10a. Leaf blade bases amplexicaul . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (261) Themeda villosa

10b. Leaf blade bases not amplexicaul . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

11a. Leaf blade bases cordate or broadly rounded . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

11b. Leaf blade bases not cordate or broadly rounded  .

12a. Oral hairs ciliate; leaf blade surfaces glabrous  . . . . . . . . . . 

12b. Oral hairs lacking; leaf blade surfaces scabrous . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (227) Sorghum × drummondii

13a. Plants solitary  . . . . . . . . . . . 

13b. Plants caespitose  .

14a. Culm internodes with ridges  . 

14b. Culm internodes smooth  .

15a. Leaf sheaths keeled, blades conduplicate  . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

15b. Leaf sheaths not keeled, blades not conduplicate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

16a. Oral hairs ciliate; leaf blades hairy on basal third  . . . . . . . . . . .

16b. Oral hairs lacking; leaf blades sparsely hairy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (221) Setaria verticillata

17a. Culms decumbent .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (133) Eragrostis tenella

17b. Culms erector geniculately ascending . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

18a. Leaf blade surfaces scabrous, midrib conspicuous above  .

18b. Leaf blade surfaces not scabrous, midrib not conspicuous above . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

19a. Leaf sheath surfaces glabrous, blades conduplicate  . . . . . . . . . . . 

19b. Leaf sheath surfaces hairy, blades not conduplicate  . . . . . . . . . . . . 

20a. Culm internodes elliptical in section  . . . . . . . . . . . 

20b. Culm internodes not elliptical in section  .

21a. Leaf sheaths flattened  . . . . . . . . . . . . 

21b. Leaf sheaths not flattened  .

22a. Leaf blade margins scabrous  .

22b. Leaf blade margins cartilaginous . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

23a. Leaf sheath glabrous  . . . . . . . . . . 

23b. Leaf sheath hairy on upper 1⁄3. . . . . . . . . . .

24a. Culm internodes semi-terete, nodes not dark . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (123) Eragrostis aspera

24b. Culm internodes terete, nodes dark color  . . . . . . . . . . . 

GROUP 15. LEAF BLADES FILIFORM

1a. Culm internodes striate  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

1b. Culm internodes not striate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

2a. Auricles clawlike  . . . . . . . . . . . .

2b. Auricles absent  

3a. Leaf blade margins hairy  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

3b. Leaf blade margins glabrous  
2 4 • SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO BOTANY

4a. Culms wiry, leaf blade surfaces hairy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (141) Festuca myuros

4b. Culms not wiry, leaf blade surfaces scabrous or glabrous  

5a. Leaf blade surfaces glabrous  . . . . . . . . . . .

5b. Leaf blade surfaces scabrous  

6a. Ligules a fringe of hairs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

6b. Ligules eciliate membranes  

7a. Culm nodes bearded, leaf blade bases truncate  . . . . . . . . . . . 

7b. Culm nodes not bearded, leaf blade bases simple . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (253) Stipagrostis uniplumis

8a. Oral hairs present  . . . . . . . . . . . 

8b. Oral hairs lacking .

9a. Leaf sheaths keeled or flattened . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (73) Corynephorus divaricatus

9b. Leaf sheaths not keeled or flattened  . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

GROUP 16. LIGULES 6–10 MM LONG

1a. Auricles clawlike  . . . . . . . . .

1b. Auricles absent  

2a. Ligules decurrent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (88) Dactylis glomerata

2b. Ligules not decurrent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

3a. Leaf blade bases tapering to the midrib, leaf blades curled or flexuous  . . . . . . . .

3b. Leaf blade bases simple, blades straight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

4a. Leaf blade margins tuberculate, collars dark colored . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (189) Phalaris minor

4b. Leaf blade margins scabrous or glabrous, collars not dark colored  

5a. Culms branching ample . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (203) Polypogon monspeliensis

5b. Culms not branched  

6a. Leaf blade apices obtuse  . . . . . . . . . . . .

6b. Leaf blade apices not obtuse  

7a. Ligules truncate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (24) Avena sterilis

7b. Ligules not truncate  

8a. Leaf sheath margins membranous  

8b. Leaf sheath margins not membranous . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

9a. Leaf blade margins glabrous  . . . . . . . . . . 

9b. Leaf blade margins scabrous  . . . . . . . . . . . .

10a. Plants solitary, leaves ascending . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (143) Gastridium phleoides

10b. Plants caespitose, leaves spreading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

11a. Oral hairs ciliate; ligules acute  . . . . . . . . . . . 

11b. Oral hairs lacking; ligules erose . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (187) Phalaris canariensis

GROUP 17. AURICLES PRESENT

1a. Auricles obtuse  . . . . . . . . . . . . 

1b. Auricles falcate or clawlike  

2a. Leaf blade apices attenuate or pungent  

2b. Leaf blade apices not attenuate or pungent  

3a. Leaf blade margins cartilaginous . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (10) Agropyron cristatum

3b. Leaf blade margins entire  . . . . . . . . . . . . 

4a. Leaf blade surfaces hairy on both sides  . . . . . . . . . . . 

4b. Leaf blade surfaces not hairy on both sides  

5a. Oral hairs ciliate  

5b. Oral hairs lacking  

6a. Leaf sheath surfaces hairy  . . . . . . . . . . . 

6b. Leaf sheath surfaces not hairy  . . . . . . . . . . . 

7a. Leaf sheath margins scabrous  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

7b. Leaf sheath margins not scabrous  

8a. Culm internodes semiterete  . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
NUMBER 103 • 2 5

8b. Culm internodes terete . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

9a. Culms wiry  . . . . . . . . . . 

9b. Culms not wiry  .

10a. Ligules acute  . . . . . . . . . . . 

10b. Ligules not acute  .

11a. Leaf sheath margins sparsely hairy  . . . . . . . . . . 

11b. Leaf sheath margins not sparsely hairy  .

12a. Leaf sheath margins hairy  . . . . . . . . . . . 

12b. Leaf sheath margins not hairy  .

13a. Leaf sheath surfaces scabrous  . . . . . . . . . . . .

13b. Leaf sheath surfaces not glabrous . 

14a. Culm nodes bearded  . . . . . . . . . . . 

14b. Culm nodes not bearded  .

15a. Ligules decurrent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (137) Eremopyrum distans

15b. Ligules not decurrent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

16a. Leaf sheath sparsely hairy  . . . . . . . . . . 

16b. Leaf sheath not sparsely hairy  .

17a. Leaf sheath margins membranous  . 

17b. Leaf sheath margins not membranous . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

18a. Internodes smooth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (275) Triticum pyramidale

18b. Internodes striate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 

19a. Leaf blade margins scabrous  . . . . . . . . . .

19b. Leaf blade margins glabrous  . . . . . . . . . .

20a. Culm nodes dark colored  . . . . . . . . . . . .

20b. Culm nodes not dark colored  .

21a. Leaf blade bases simple  . . . . . . . . . . . . 

21b. Leaf blade bases truncate  .

22a. Leaf blade surfaces scabrous, culms sparsely branched  . . . . . . . . . . 

22b. Leaf blade surfaces sparsely hairy, culms unbranched  . . . . . . . . . .

GROUP 18. LEAF SHEATHS FLATTENED, COMPRESSED, OR KEELED

1a. Ligules absent  . . . . . . . . . . . .

1b. Ligules present  

2a. Leaf sheaths, the uppermost flattened  

2b. Leaf sheaths all flattened or keeled  

3a. Leaf sheath margins membranous  . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

3b. Leaf sheath margins not membranous . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (180) Parapholis incurva

4a. Lower nodes rooting  . . . . . . . . . . . 

4b. Lower nodes not rooting  

5a. Leaf blade surfaces glandular . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

5b. Leaf blade surfaces not glandular  .

6a. Leaf blades linear . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (138) Festuca brevis

6b. Leaf blades lanceolate  . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

7a. Leaf blade apices abruptly acute  

7b. Leaf blade apices not abruptly acute  

8a. Leaf blade surfaces glabrous, culm bulb-like bases  . . . . . . . 

8b. Leaf blade surfaces not bulb-like bases  . . . . . . . . 

9a. Culm internodes pubescent  . . . . . . . . . . .

9b. Culm internodes not pubescent  .

10a. Leaf blades lanceolate  . . . . . . . . . . .

10b. Leaf blades linear . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

11a. Ligules 3–6 mm long . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

11b. Ligules less than 3 mm long . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

12a. Plant solitary, nodes glabrous, leaf sheath glabrous  . . . . . . . . . . .
2 6 • SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO BOTANY

12b. Plant caespitose, nodes pubescent, leaf sheath hairy  . . . . . . . . . 

13a. Leaf blade margins glabrous  . . . . . . . . . . 

13b. Leaf blade margins scabrous or cartilaginous  .

14a. Culms branched . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

14b. Culms unbranched . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

15a. Leaf sheath margins hairy  . . . . . . . . . . . 

15b. Leaf sheath margins glabrous  .

16a. Leaf blades straight; perennials, aromatic  . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

16b. Leaf blades flaccid; annuals, not aromatic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (230) Sporobolus alopecuroides

17a. Culm nodes bearded  .

17b. Culm nodes not bearded  .

18a. Leaf blade apices attenuate  . . . . . . . . . . . 

18b. Leaf blade apices acute  . . . . . . . . . . . . 

19a. Plants solitary; leaf blade apices attenuate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (217) Setaria italica

19b. Plants caespitose; leaf blade apices acute  .

20a. Ligule an eciliate membrane  . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

20b. Ligules ciliate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

21a. Leaf blades reflexed; plants perennial  . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

21b. Leaf blades ascending, spreading; plants annual  . . . . . . . . . . . . 

GROUP 19. LIGULE A FRINGE OF HAIRS

1a. Leaf blade apices attenuate or filiform . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (232) Sporobolus natalensis

1b. Leaf blade apices not attenuate or filiform . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

2a. Culms wiry  

2b. Culms not wiry  

3a. Leaf blade margins glabrous; roots not aromatic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (17) Aristida funiculata

3b. Leaf blade margins scabrous; roots aromatic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (68) Chrysopogon plumulosus

4a. Leaf blade bases amplexicaul . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (280) Urochloa panicoides

4b. Leaf blade bases not amplexicaul . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

5a. Culms woody, leaf sheath surfaces hairy on basal 1⁄3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (48) Cenchrus americanus

5b. Culms not woody, leaf sheath surfaces not hairy on basal 1⁄3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

6a. Leaf blade surfaces hairy and viscid  . . . . . . . . . . . . 

6b. Leaf blade surfaces not hairy or viscid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

7a. Leaf blade surfaces hairy both sides  . . . . . . . . . . .

7b. Leaf blade surfaces not hairy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

8a. Oral hairs present .

8b. Oral hairs lacking . 

9a. Leaf blades revolute, spreading; plant annuals  . . . . . . . . . . .

9b. Leaf blades convolute, appressed; plants perennials  . . . . . . . . . . . 

10a. Leaf blade margins glabrous; sheath margins closed. . . . . . . . . . . . . .

10b. Leaf blade margins not glabrous; sheath margins open . 

11a. Culms semiterete; leaf blades convolute. . . . . . . . . . . . 

11b. Culms terete; leaf blades flat. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

12a. Leaf sheaths pubescent, oral hairs present . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (57) Cenchrus pennisetiformis

12b. Leaf sheaths glabrous, oral hairs lacking. 

13a. Culm nodes and collars dark; leaf blades loosely twisted  . . . . . . . . . .

13b. Culm nodes and collars not dark; leaf blades straight. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14

14a. Leaf sheath margins glabrous; blades ascending . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (237) Sporobolus wrightii

14b. Leaf sheath margins hairy; blades spreading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (222) Setaria viridis

GROUP 20. LEAF BLADE APICES ATTENUATE

1a. Leaf blades convolute or bristlelike  . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

1b. Leaf blades not convolute or bristlelike . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
NUMBER 103 • 2 7

2a. Culm internodes ridged . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (139) Festuca bromoides

2b. Culm internodes smooth  

3a. Leaf sheath surfaces hairy  . . . . . . . . . . . 

3b. Leaf sheath surfaces glabrous  

4a. Leaf blade bases cordate or amplexicaul  . . . . . . . . . . . 

4b. Leaf blade bases not cordate or amplexicaul  

5a. Culm nodes bearded; ligules erose . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (83) Cymbopogon schoenanthus

5b. Culm nodes not bearded; ligules not erose . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

6a. Ligules less than 2 mm long; blade surfaces pilose on both sides . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (102) Dinebra panicea

6b. Ligules 3–8 mm long; blade surfaces glabrous or scaberulous  . . . . . . . . . . .

GROUP 21. CULM NODES BEARDED

1a. Leaf blades lanceolate, ligules obtuse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (100) Digitaria velutina

1b. Leaf blades linear, ligules acute or acuminate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

2a. Butt sheaths woolly; leaf sheath margins membranous  . . . . . . . . . . . 

2b. Butt sheath not woolly; leaf sheath margins not membranous  

3a. Culms solitary; leaf blade surfaces glabrous . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (226) Sorghum virgatum

3b. Culms caespitose; leaf blade surfaces hairy  

4a. Ligules lacerate; leaf blade margins ciliate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (25) Brachypodium distachyon

4b. Ligules erose; leaf blade margins scabrous . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (34) Bromus hordeaceus

GROUP 22. LEAF BLADE MARGINS GLABROUS, SMOOTH

1a. Leaf sheath surfaces glandular  . . . . . . . . . . . .

1b. Leaf sheath surfaces eglandular . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

2a. Ligules 3–6 mm long . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (41) Bromus pulchellus

2b. Ligules less than 3 mm long . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

3a. Culm internodes striate  

3b. Culm internodes smooth  

4a. Ligules lacerate; leaf blades ascending . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (32) Bromus diandrus

4b. Ligules erose; leaf blades flaccid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (30) Bromus catharticus

5a. Leaf blade surfaces hairy  

5b. Leaf blade surfaces scabrous or glabrous  

6a. Culm nodes swollen; plants solitary  . . . . . . . . . . . 

6b. Culm nodes not swollen; plants caespitose  . . . . . . . . . . .

7a. Leaf sheath surfaces hairy, oral hairs ciliate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (97) Digitaria ciliaris

7b. Leaf sheath surfaces glabrous, oral hair lacking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

8a. Leaf blade apices abruptly acute; rhizomes short . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (93) Desmazeria philistaea

8b. Leaf blade apices acute; rhizomes absent  

9a. Leaf blade surfaces glabrous, bases simple . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (191) Phleum pratense

9b. Leaf blade surfaces scabrous, bases truncate  . . . . . . . . . . .

GROUP 23. LIGULES ABSENT OR LESS THAN 3 MM LONG

1a. Ligules absent  . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1b. Ligules present  

2a. Culms wiry; blades involute . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (141) Festuca myuros

2b. Culms not wiry; blades not involute  

3a. Leaf blade margins cartilaginous . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (209) Rostraria rohlfsii

3b. Leaf blade margins not cartilaginous . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

4a. Leaf blades apices abruptly acute . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (208) Rostraria pumila

4b. Leaf blades apices not abruptly acute  

5a. Leaf sheath margins sparsely hairy  . . . . . . . . . .

5b. Leaf sheath margins not sparsely hairy  
2 8 • SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO BOTANY

6a. Leaf blade midrib conspicuous above  . . . . . . . . . . . .

6b. Leaf blade midrib not conspicuous above  

7a. Butt sheaths pubescent; leaf blade surfaces sparsely hairy  . . . . . . . . . . 

7b. Butt sheath glabrous; leaf blade surfaces not sparsely hairy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

8a. Leaf blade margins tuberculate  . . . . . . . . . . .

8b. Leaf blade margins not tuberculate  

9a. Leaf blades revolute. . . . . . . . . . . . 

9b. Leaf blades not revolute. 

10a. Leaf sheath margins membranous  .

10b. Leaf sheath margins not membranous . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

11a. Leaf blade bases truncate; plants perennial  . . . . . . . . . . . .

11b. Leaf blade bases simple; plants annual . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (265) Trichoneura mollis

12a. Leaf blade margins sparsely hairy  . . . . . . . . . . 

12b. Leaf blade margins not sparsely hairy  .

13a. Ligules lacerate  . . . . . . . . .

13b. Ligules not lacerate  .

14a. Culms decumbent; leaf blades spreading, flaccid  . . . . . . . . . . .

14b. Culms erect or geniculate; leaf blades ascending, reflexed. . . . . . . . . . . . . 

GROUP 24. LIGULES 3–6 MM LONG

1a. Butt sheaths woolly  

1b. Butt sheaths glabrous or pubescent  

2a. Oral hairs ciliate; blades spreading, bases simple . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (46) Bromus tectorum

2b. Oral hairs lacking; blades ascending, bases truncate  . . . . . . . . .

3a. Culm internodes striate  

3b. Culm internodes smooth  

4a. Leaf sheath surfaces glabrous, ligules erose  . . . . . . . . 

4b. Leaf sheath surfaces hairy, ligules truncate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (27) Briza minor

5a. Oral hairs lacking  . . . . . . . .

5b. Oral hairs ciliate  

6a. Leaf blades curled or flexuous, margins tuberculate  . . . . . . . . 

6b. Leaf blades not curled or flexuous, margins not tuberculate  

7a. Ligules erose, dentate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (20) Avena barbata

7b. Ligules not erose, lacerate  

8a. Ligules lacerate  . . . . . . . . . .

8b. Ligules truncate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (24) Avena sterilis

ALTERNATIVE KEY TO GROUP 24

1a. Nodes pubescent  

1b. Nodes not pubescent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

2a. Oral hairs ciliate  . . . . . . . . 

2b. Oral hairs lacking  . . . . . . . .

3a. Leaf sheath surfaces glabrous  . . . . . . . . 

3b. Leaf sheath surfaces not glabrous  

4a. Ligule apices erose . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (20) Avena barbata

4b. Ligule apices not erose . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

5a. Leaf blade surfaces hairy above and below  . . . . . . . . .

5b. Leaf blade surfaces not hairy above and below  

6a. Leaf sheaths open, surfaces ribbed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (24) Avena sterilis

6b. Leaf sheaths not open, not ribbed  

7a. Culm nodes dark colored; leaf sheath margins membranous . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (27) Briza minor

7b. Culm nodes not dark colored; leaf sheath margins not membranous . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (46) Bromus tectorum
1. Acrachne racemosa* 

(B. Heyne ex Roem. & Schult.) Ohwi

FIGURE 10

Acrachne racemosa* (B. Heyne ex Roem. & Schult.) Ohwi, Bull. 

Tokyo Sci. Mus. 18: 1. 1947. 

Common name: goosegrass.

Caespitose annuals. Culms 15–40 cm tall, decumbent and 

geniculate, lateral branching sparse; internodes glabrous; nodes 

dark, occasionally rooting below; butt sheaths sparsely hairy. 

Leaves basal and cauline; sheaths glabrous, keeled; ligules 1.5 

mm long, membranous, apex ciliate; blades 5–10 cm long, 1.5–3 

mm wide, flat, filiform wiry, sparsely hairy, margins cartilaginous, apex attenuate. Inflorescence branches 1.5–10 cm long, 

digitate to subdigitately arranged along a central axis, unilateral; 

rachis 0–15 cm long, angular. Spikelets 5.5–13 mm long, 2.5–3 

mm wide, oblong, laterally compressed; principal lemma awns 

0.3–0.9 mm long, straight. Habitat: margins of cultivated (corn) 

fields. Distribution: (Nv) tropical Africa.

2. Aegilops bicornis (Forssk.) Jaub. & Spach

FIGURE 11

Aegilops bicornis (Forssk.) Jaub. & Spach, Ill. Pl. Orient. 4: 11, 

t. 309. 1850.

Common names: sha’eer eblis, sha’eer el far; goatgrass.

Caespitose annuals. Culms 15–50 cm tall, erect, geniculate, 

wiry, striate, glabrous, glossy; nodes dark. Leaves basal and cauline; sheaths flattened, glabrous; auricles 2 mm long; falcate; ligules 1–1.6 mm long, membranous, apex truncate; blades 3–10 

cm long, 1–3 mm wide, flat or folded, linear, sparsely hairy, 

margins hairy, apex acute. Spikes 5–8 cm long, single, linear, bilateral. Spikelets 5.5–8.5 mm long, embedded in rachis, elliptic, 

laterally compressed; principal lemma awns 30–60 mm long, 

Descriptions

FIGURE 10. Acrachne racemosa. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and 

blade. C. Spikelet. A, C modified from Ibrahim and Kabuye (1988), 

N. El Hadidi & A. Khattab s.n. (CAI); B drawn from L. Snook 9899

(US-3427880), G. Sockoon 1408 (US-2461138).
3 0 • SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO BOTANY

straight, scabrous. Habitat: sandy soils. Distribution: (Mm, Ms) 

Sahara and Arabian Deserts.

3. Aegilops geniculata Roth

FIGURE 12

Aegilops geniculata Roth, Bot. Abh. 45. 1787. 

Common names: gamh-el hagal, hagal, sabal el far; ovate goatgrass.

Caespitose annuals. Culms 10–30 cm tall, erect, geniculate; 

internodes glabrous, straw colored; butt sheaths glabrous. Leaves 

basal and cauline; sheaths hairy, flattened; oral hairs present; auricles 2 mm long, falcate; ligules less than 3 mm long, membranous, 

truncate; blades 4–8 cm long, 1–3 mm wide, linear-lanceolate, 

ascending, stiff, pubescent, margins ciliate, apex acute. Spikes 

1–2 cm long, 4–9 mm wide, erect, obovate, bilateral. Spikelets 

7–11 mm long, embedded in rachis, ovate, laterally compressed; 

glumes 3–4 (8)–awned; principal lemma awns 10–25 mm long, 

straight, scabrid. Habitat: disturbed areas. Distribution: (Mm, 

Ms) S Europe and Africa, N of Sahara to SW Asia.

4. Aegilops kotschyi Boiss.

FIGURE 13

Aegilops kotschyi Boiss., Diagn. Pl. Orient., ser. 1, 7: 129. 1846. 

Common name: sha’eer el far.

FIGURE 11. Aegilops bicornis. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and 

blade. C. Spikelet. A drawn from G. Täckholm s.n. (CAI); B, C 

drawn from C. G. Ehrenberg (US-730880).

FIGURE 12. Aegilops geniculata. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and 

blade. C. Inflorescence. A drawn from V. Täckholm s.n. (CAI); B 

drawn from A. Charpin, M. Dittrich, W. Greufer & P. Hainard s.n. 

(US-2646141).
NUMBER 103 • 3 1

Caespitose annuals. Culms 15–25 cm tall, erect, geniculate; 

internodes glabrous, glossy; butt sheaths glabrous. Leaves basal 

and cauline; sheaths much longer than blades, sparsely hairy; auricles 2 mm long, falcate; ligules less than 3 mm long, membranous, 

lacerate; blades 2.5–6 cm long, 1–2 mm wide, linear, conduplicate, 

ascending, stiff, glabrous, pilose or sparsely hairy, margins ciliate, 

bases rounded, apex acute. Spikes 0.5–4 cm long, 2.5–5 mm wide, 

single, lanceolate, bilateral; glumes 1–4-awned. Spikelets 7–10 

mm long, embedded in rachis, oblong, laterally compressed; principal lemma awns 5–15 mm long, straight, scabrid. Habitat: sandy 

soils. Distribution: (Mm, Ms, Di) E Mediterranean to Caucasia.

5. Aegilops longissima Schweinf. & Muschl.

FIGURE 14

Aegilops longissima Schweinf. & Muschl., Man. Fl. Egypt 1: 

156. 1912. 

Common name: goatgrass.

Caespitose annuals. Culms 50–100 cm tall, erect, geniculate, internodes glabrous; butt sheaths glabrous. Leaves basal 

and cauline; sheaths much longer than blades, sparsely hairy, 

oral hairs present; auricles 2 mm long, falcate; ligules less than 

3 mm long, membranous, truncate; blades 3–10 cm long, 2–4 

mm wide, linear, flat, spreading, glabrous or pilose, margins ciliate, bases broadly rounded, apex acute. Spikes up to 10 cm long. 

Spikelets 12–14 mm long, oblong, laterally compressed, embedded in rachis; glumes awnless; principal lemma awns 3–10 mm 

long. Habitat: sandy field margins. Distribution: (Mm, Ms) 

E Mediterranean.

FIGURE 14. Aegilops longissima. A. Habit B. Ligule, sheath, and 

blade C. Spikelet. D. Inflorescence. A, C drawn from G. Maire s.n. 

(CAI); B, D drawn from Bornmuller s.n. (US-1129639).

FIGURE 13. Aegilops kotschyi. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and 

blade. C. Spikelet. A drawn from G. Maire s.n. (CAI); B, C drawn 

from Alizzi and Husain 33786 (US-3048203).
3 2 • SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO BOTANY

6. Aegilops peregrina (Hack.) Eig

FIGURE 15

Aegilops peregrina (Hack.) Eig, Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. 

Beih. 55: 121. 1929.

Common name: goatgrass.

Caespitose annuals. Culms 10–40 cm tall, erect, geniculate 

below, internodes glabrous, straw colored; butt sheaths glabrous. 

Leaves basal and cauline; sheaths much longer than blades, glabrous, striate, oral hairs present; auricles falcate; ligules less than 

3 mm long, eciliate membrane, truncate; blades 2.5–10 cm long, 

1.5–3 mm wide, linear, flat, spreading, pubescent on both sides, 

margins smooth, bases broadly rounded, apex acute. Spikes 1–2 

cm long, erect, single, lanceolate or ovate, bilateral. Spikelets 5–7 

mm long, oblong or ovate, laterally compressed, embedded in 

rachis; glumes 2- or 3-awned, the awns 15–50 mm long; principal lemma awns 2–30 mm long. Habitat: sandy areas. Distribution: (Ms, S) Mediterranean.

7. Aegilops ventricosa Tausch

FIGURE 16

Aegilops ventricosa Tausch, Flora 20: 108. 1837. 

Common name: barbed goatgrass.

Caespitose annuals. Culms 30–70 cm tall, erect or slightly 

geniculate below; internodes glabrous, straw colored; nodes 

swollen; butt sheaths glabrous. Leaves basal and cauline; sheaths 

glabrous, oral hairs present; auricles 2 mm long, falcate; ligules 

less than 3 mm long, membranous, truncate; blades 12–15 cm 

long, 2–7 mm wide, linear, flat, spreading; pilose on both sides, 

FIGURE 16. Aegilops ventricosa. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, 

and blade. C. Portion of inflorescence. A drawn from L. Boulos 

1566 (CAI); B, C drawn from Izovits (US-1018366), L. Trabut 

194 (US-1018388).

FIGURE 15. Aegilops peregrina. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and 

blade. C. Spikelet. A drawn from V. Täckholm, M. Kassas, N. El 

Hadidi, H. Fawzy s.n. (CAI); B, C drawn from C. G. Ehrenberg s.n. 

(US-1129362).
NUMBER 103 • 3 3

margins smooth, apex acute. Spikes 5 cm long, linear, or moniliform, bilateral. Spikelets 5–14 mm long, embedded in rachis; 

glumes 3-awned; principal lemma awns 50–95 mm long. Habitat: weed in barley fields. Distribution: (Mm) Mediterranean.

8. Aeluropus lagopoides (L.) Trin. ex Thwaites

FIGURE 17

Aeluropus lagopoides (L.) Trin. ex Thwaites, Enum. Pl. Zeyl. 

374. 1864. 

Common names: mulleih, negil shaitani.

Sward-forming perennials sometimes with long creeping 

stolons; rhizomes elongated and scaly. Culms 5–20 cm tall, erect, 

geniculate or prostrate; internodes glabrous; butt sheaths woolly. 

Leaves basal and cauline, distichous; sheaths longer than adjacent internodes, open, sparsely hairy, margins scabrous; ligules 

less than 3 mm long, ciliolate membranes; blades 0.4–0.8 cm 

long, 1–2 mm wide, lanceolate, revolute, straight-distichous, 

ribbed, scabrous on both sides, margins scabrous, bases broadly 

rounded, apex acuminate or spiny and pungent. Panicles 

0.5–1 cm long, ellipsoid, globose, of a single or a few branches. 

Spikelets 3–6 mm long, oblong, laterally compressed, breaking 

up at maturity; lemmas awnless. Habitat: dry to damp, fresh 

water and saline areas. Distribution: (Mm, Ms, Nv, Dl, Dg, Di, 

Ol, On, S, Rq, Rz, Ra, Ge) Mediterranean region to India.

9. Aeluropus littoralis (Gouan) Parl.

FIGURE 18

Aeluropus littoralis (Gouan) Parl., Fl. Ital. 1: 461. 1848. 

Common names: negeil; Mediterranean salt grass.

Stoloniferous perennials; rhizomes elongated. Culms 5–30 

cm tall, prostrate, creeping; internodes glabrous; butt sheaths 

FIGURE 17. Aeluropus lagopoides. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and 

blade. C. Spikelet. A drawn from V. Täckholm 1483 (CAI); B, C 

drawn from Wolfe s.n. (US-2461102).

FIGURE 18. Aeluropus littoralis. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and 

blade. C. Spikelet. A drawn from Biskra 645 (CAI); B drawn from 

H. S. Thompson s.n. (US-1162443); C drawn from T. De Heldreich 

s.n. (US-913974).
3 4 • SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO BOTANY

glabrous. Leaves basal and cauline, distichous; sheaths longer 

than adjacent internodes, sparsely hairy, margins hairy; ligules 

less than 3 mm long, ciliolate membranes; blades 1–5 cm long, 

1–3 mm wide, coriaceous, linear, convolute, straight, rigid, 

ribbed, sparsely hairy, margins smooth, apex attenuate, spiny 

and pungent. Panicles 0.5–1 cm long, erect, ellipsoid with 4–12 

branches, each bearing up to 12 spikelets. Spikelets 3–4.5 mm 

long, ovate, laterally compressed, breaking up at maturity; lemmas awnless. Habitat: sandy and saline soils. Distribution: (S, 

Ra) Mediterranean region to E Asia.

10. Agropyron cristatum* (L.) Gaertn.

FIGURE 19

Agropyron cristatum* (L.) Gaertn., Novi Comment. Acad. Sci. 

Imp. Petrop. 14: 540. 1770.

Common names: gazouf, sayfoun; crested wheatgrass.

Caespitose perennials. Culms 10–30 cm tall, decumbent; internodes glabrous. Leaves basal and cauline; sheaths glabrous, margins membranous; auricles 2 mm long, falcate; ligules 1.5–2 mm 

long, membranous, truncate scabrid or pilose above; blades 5–10 

cm long, 1–4 mm wide, linear, involute, scabrid or pilose above, 

glabrous below or pubescent on both sides, margins cartilaginous, 

apex attenuate, sometimes spiny and pungent. Panicles 1–5 cm 

long, ellipsoid, racemes single, oblong, bilateral. Spikes 8–15 mm 

long, oblong. Spikelets 7–16 mm long, diverging at right angles at 

maturity; glumes 1-awned; principal lemma awns 3–4 mm long, 

scabrous. Habitat: sandy soils. Distribution: (Mm) central (C) Europe, Mediterranean region, and temperate Asia. 

11. Agrostis stolonifera* L.

FIGURE 20

Agrostis stolonifera* L., Sp. Pl. 1: 62. 1753. 

Common name: creaping bentgrass.

FIGURE 20. Agrostis stolonifera. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and 

blade. C. Spikelet. A drawn from E. Evers s.n. & M. Hassib s.n. 

(CAI); B and C drawn from W. Koelz 16325 (US-3041635).

FIGURE 19. Agropyron cristatum. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, 

and blade. C. Spikelet. A–C drawn from J. Barrell & S. Spongberg 

353-62 (US-2872773).
NUMBER 103 • 3 5

Stoloniferous perennials. Culms up to 70 cm tall, weak, erect; 

nodes dark, swollen, lower nodes rooting; internodes glabrous, 

striate; butt sheaths glabrous. Leaves basal and cauline; sheaths 

overlapping, glabrous, margins membranous; auricles falcate; ligules 1–3 mm long, membranous, acute; blades 5–15 cm long, 2–10 

mm wide, linear, flat, straight or spreading, scaberulous, ribbed, 

apex acuminate. Panicles 1–13 cm long, 0.4–2.5 cm wide, open or 

contracted, linear, lanceolate or oblong, continuous or interrupted, 

dense or loose; primary branches whorled at most nodes. Spikelets 

2–3 mm long, lanceolate or oblong, laterally compressed; pedicels 0.5–2 mm long, filiform; lemmas awnless. Habitat: aquatic or 

moist habitats. Distribution: (Di) Europe and temperate Asia.

12. Alopecurus myosuroides* Huds.

FIGURE 21

Alopecurus myosuroides* Huds., Fl. Angl. 1: 23. 1762.

Common name: slender meadow foxtail.

Caespitose annuals. Culms (10–)40–85 cm tall, geniculately 

ascending or decumbent; culm internodes pubescent. Leaves 

basal and cauline; sheath surfaces glabrous; ligules 2–6 mm long, 

membranous, apex obtuse; blades 3–16 cm long, (2–)3.5–6 mm 

wide, flat, linear, surfaces scaberulous, rough adaxially or on 

both sides (abaxially), margins scabrous, apex acute. Panicles 

4–12 cm long, 3–7 cm wide, spiciform, linear, tapering above. 

Spikelets 4.5–7 mm long, oblong, laterally compressed; principal 

lemma awns 8–14 mm long, dorsal, arising just above the base, 

geniculate, clearly exserted from spikelet, with a twisted column. 

Habitat: cultivated and waste areas. Distribution: (Mm, Nv, Di) 

Europe and temperate Asia.

13. Ammochloa palaestina Boiss.

FIGURE 22

Ammochloa palaestina Boiss., Diagn. Pl. Orient., ser. 1, 13: 52. 

1854.

Mat-forming annuals. Culms 0.5–8 cm tall, prostrate; internodes glabrous; nodes swollen; butt sheaths glabrous. Leaves 

FIGURE 21. Alopecurus myosuroides. A. Habit. B. Ligule, 

sheath, and blade. C. Spikelet. A–C drawn from A. Chase 6127 

(US-730450).

FIGURE 22. Ammochloa palaestina. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and 

blade. C. Spikelet. A drawn from L. Boulos & Ads 14164 (CAI); B, 

C drawn from E. Palmer & F. A. Barkley 611 (US-2381349).
3 6 • SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO BOTANY

mostly basal; sheaths loose or inflated, glabrous, margins membranous; auricles obtuse; ligules 1.5 mm long, membranous, 

truncate; blades 2–6 cm long, 1–2 mm wide, linear, flat, straight, 

glabrous, margins smooth, apex acute. Panicles ellipsoid or 

ovoid, capitate, shorter than basal leaves. Spikelets 8–15 mm 

long, oblong, laterally compressed; glumes 2.6–4.2 mm long; 

lemmas awnless. Habitat: calcareous and sandy soils. Distribution: (Mm, Ms, Nv) S Europe, N Africa to Iran.

14. Ammophila arenaria (L.) Link

FIGURE 23

Ammophila arenaria (L.) Link, Hort. Berol. 1: 105. 1827.

Common names: gazouf; marram grass.

Caespitose perennials; rhizomes elongated; sand usually adhering to the roots. Culms 60–150 cm tall, erect, stout, reedlike; 

internodes glabrous, glossy; butt sheaths glabrous. Leaves basal 

and cauline; sheaths open, glabrous; ligules 10–30 mm long, 

membranous, acute; blades 10–60 cm long, 2–50 mm wide, linear, revolute, ascending, stiff, ribbed, pubescent, margins entire, 

apex pungent. Panicles 7–22 cm long, 1–2.5 cm wide, erect, spiciform, oblong, tapering above. Spikelets 10–16 mm long, lanceolate, laterally compressed; lemmas awnless. Habitat: coastal 

sandy areas. Distribution: (Mm, Ms) W Europe.

15. Andropogon distachyos L.

FIGURE 24

Andropogon distachyos L., Sp. Pl. 2: 1046. 1753. 

Common name: two-spiked bread grass.

FIGURE 24. Andropogon distachyos. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, 

and blade. C. Spikelets. A, C drawn from J. R. Akeryd 346 (CAI), 

Ibrahim and Kabuye (1988); B, drawn from J. Mildbread 10852

(US-1535473), A. Pappi s.n. (US-2523698).

FIGURE 23. Ammophila arenaria. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and 

blade. C. Inflorescence. D. Spikelet. A drawn from G. Täckholm s.n. 

(CAI); B–D drawn from T. Williams s.n (US-221940).
NUMBER 103 • 3 7

Caespitose perennials. Culms up to 100 cm tall, erect, weak; 

nodes dark; internodes glabrous; butt sheaths sparsely hairy. 

Leaves basal and cauline; sheath margins closed, sparsely hairy; 

ligules 0.5–1 mm long, fringe of hairs; blades 5–20 cm long, 

5–10 mm wide, linear, flat, ascending, sparsely hairy, margins 

smooth, apex acute. Rames 4–14 cm long, paired, rachis fragile 

at the nodes, ciliate on margins; internodes linear or slightly clavate. Spikelets in pairs; fertile spikelets 8–16 mm long, dorsally 

compressed; glumes 1-awned, the awn 3–9 mm long; lemmas 

1-awned, the awns 15–30 mm long, geniculate with twisted column. Habitat: sandy soils. Distribution: (S) tropical and S Africa, 

Mediterranean to Arabia.

16. Aristida adscensionis L.

FIGURE 25

Aristida adscensionis L., Sp. Pl. 1: 82. 1753. 

Common names: sabal abu el-hosein; sixweeks threeawn.

Caespitose annuals. Culms 15–50 cm tall, erect, weak, geniculate; nodes dark; internodes glabrous; butt sheaths glabrous. 

Leaves basal and cauline; sheaths open, glabrous, margins membranous; ligules 0.5–1 mm long, ciliolate membranes; blades 

5–15 cm long, 1–2.5 mm wide, linear, conduplicate, stiff, sparsely 

hairy, margins smooth, apex acuminate. Panicles 4–14 cm long, 

0.5–3 cm wide, erect, terminal and axillary, rachis fragile at the 

nodes, ciliate on margins. Spikelets 6–12 mm long, lanceolate, 

subterete; lemmas 3-awned, the awns 5–25 mm long. Habitat: 

sandy soils. Distribution: (Nv, Dg, Di, Ol, On, S, Ra, Ge) tropics 

and subtropics.

17. Aristida funiculata Trin. & Rupr.

FIGURE 26

Aristida funiculata Trin. & Rupr., Sp. Gram. Stipac. 159. 1842.

Caespitose annuals. Culms 15–25 cm tall, erect, weak, wiry, 

geniculate; internodes glabrous; butt sheaths glabrous, forming bulbs. Leaves mostly basal; sheaths open, glabrous, margins 

FIGURE 25. Aristida adscensionis. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and 

blade. C. Inflorescence. D. Spikelet. A drawn from V. Täckholm, 

M. Kassas, F. Shalaby, M. Samy, M. Zahran (CAI); B–D drawn from 

G. A. Mensah 476 (US-2209026).

FIGURE 26. Aristida funiculata. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and 

blade. C. Spikelet. A drawn from G. Täckholm s.n. (CAI); B, C 

drawn from S. Laegaard & S. Traore 17915 (US-3595195).
3 8 • SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO BOTANY

smooth; ligules 0.5–1 mm long, a fringe of hairs; blades 5–20 cm 

long, 1–3 mm wide, linear, convolute or folded, stiff, appressed, 

glabrous, margins smooth, apex acuminate. Panicles 5–10 cm 

long, contracted, scarcely exerted from the uppermost sheath, 

terminal and axillary, erect. Spikelets 20–30 mm long, lanceolate, subterete; lemmas 3-awned, the awns 35–45 mm long, the 

column 2–4.5 cm long, twisted. Habitat: sandy soils. Distribution: (Ra, Ge) tropical Africa to India.

18. Aristida mutabilis Trin. & Rupr.

FIGURE 27

Aristida mutabilis Trin. & Rupr., Sp. Gram. Stipac. 150. 1842. 

Common name: adar hamoreit.

Caespitose annuals. Culms 10–40 cm tall, erect, weak, 

geniculate; nodes dark; internodes glabrous; butt sheaths glabrous. Leaves basal and cauline; sheaths open, glabrous, margins smooth; oral hairs present; ligules 0.5–1 mm long, fringe of 

hairs; blades 2–7 cm long, 1–2 mm wide, linear, convolute, stiff, 

surfaces glabrous, margins smooth, apex acuminate. Panicles 

5–10 cm long, open, linear, erect, terminal and axillary. Spikelets 6–7 mm long, lanceolate, subterete; lemmas 3-awned, awns 

10–30 mm long, the column 3–5(–6.8) mm long, twisted. Habitat: sandy soils. Distribution: (Da, Ra, Ge) tropical Africa to 

India.

19. Arundo donax* L.

FIGURE 28

Arundo donax* L., Sp. Pl. 1: 81. 1753. 

Common names: ghab; giant reed, nalgrass.

Solitary perennials; rhizomes long, creeping. Culms 2–4 m 

tall, erect, woody, bamboo-like; internodes glossy; butt sheaths 

glabrous. Leaves basal and cauline, conspicuously distichous, 

glabrous, margins membranous, oral hairs ciliate; ligules 2 mm 

long, ciliolate membranes; blades 10–50 cm long, 5–70 mm 

wide, linear-lanceolate, flat, drooping, cartilaginous, hairy on 

FIGURE 28. Arundo donax. A. Rhizome. B. Culm. C. Ligule, 

sheath, and blade. D. Inflorescence. E. Spikelet. F. Floret. A, B modified from Hitchcock (1951); C. G. Schweinfurth s.n. (US-806224);

D–F drawn from G. Griffith s.n. (US-2322770).

FIGURE 27. Aristida mutabilis. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and 

blade. C. Spikelet. A, C drawn from V. Täckholm 1685 (CAI), Ibrahim and Kabuye (1988); B drawn from J. Ash 2991 (US-2837041).
NUMBER 103 • 3 9

basal third, margins smooth, bases rounded or cordate, apex attenuate. Panicles 30–60 cm long, terminal, contracted, oblong; 

primary branches profusely divided, scaberulous. Spikelets 8–15 

mm long, cuneate, laterally compressed; lemmas awnless. Habitat: waste places. Distribution: (Mm, Ms, Nv, Di, Ol, S) Mediterranean region to SE Asia.

20. Avena barbata Pott ex Link

FIGURE 29

Avena barbata Pott ex Link, J. Bot. (Schrader) 2: 314–315. 1799 

[1800].

Common names: bahma, sheifun, zommeir; slender oat.

Caespitose or solitary annuals. Culms 30–100 cm tall, 

erect; internodes glossy; butt sheaths glabrous. Leaves mostly 

basal; sheaths hairy, margins membranous, oral hairs present; 

ligules 3–6 mm long, membranous, apex erose, lacerate; blades 

4–25 cm long, 2–4 mm wide, linear, flat, spreading, glabrous, 

pilose or sparsely hairy, margins scabrous, apex acute. Panicles 

15–30(–50) cm long, 6–12 cm wide, open, erect, terminal, elliptic, diffuse, nodding; primary panicle branches 9–18 cm long, 

smooth or scaberulous. Spikelets 14–30 mm long, pendulous, 

lanceolate, laterally compressed, breaking up at maturity; lower 

lemma 1.2–2 cm long, awns 30–60 mm long, geniculate, column 

twisted. Habitat: weed in cultivated areas. Distribution: (Mm, 

Ms, S) S Europe and N Africa.

KEY TO THE SUBSPECIES

1a. Spikelets (1.8–)2–3 cm long; lower lemma 1.6–2 cm long  . . . . . . . . . . . . 

1b. Spikelets 1.4–1.8 cm long; lower lemma 1.2–1.4 cm long 

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A. barbat

21. Avena fatua L.

FIGURE 30

Avena fatua L., Sp. Pl., ed. 1: 80. 1753. 

Common names: khafour, zommeir; black oat.

Caespitose annuals. Culms 30–125 cm tall, erect; nodes 

dark, internodes glossy; butt sheaths glabrous. Leaves mostly 

cauline; sheaths open, hairy, margins sparsely hairy, membranous; oral hairs present; ligules 4–6 mm long, membranous, 

apex erose, lacerate; blades 5–30 cm long, 4–15 mm wide, linear, flat, spreading or reflexed, scaberulous, margins scabrous, 

apex acute. Panicles 10–40 cm long, 5–20 cm wide, erect, terminal, pyramidal, nodding; primary panicle branches drooping, scaberulous. Spikelets 18–28 mm long, cuneate, laterally 

compressed; lower lemma 1.4–2.2 cm long, awns 2.5–4 cm 

long, geniculate, column twisted. Habitat: weed in cultivated 

areas. Distribution: (Mm, Ms, Nv, Nn, Dl, Ol, S) temperate 

Old World.

22. Avena longiglumis Durieu

FIGURE 31

Avena longiglumis Durieu, Rev. Bot. Bull. Mens. 1: 359. 1845.

Caespitose annuals. Culms 30–100 cm tall, erect; internodes 

glossy; butt sheaths glabrous. Leaves mostly basal; sheaths pubescent, margins smooth; ligules 0.5–1 mm long, membranous, 

apex lacerate; blades 5–30 cm long, 5–20 mm wide, linear, 

flat, spreading, scabrous, apex acute. Panicles 10–15 cm long, 

erect, terminal, open, linear, equilateral or nodding. Spikelets 

25–40 mm long, lanceolate, laterally compressed; lemma awns 

4–6 cm long, geniculate, column twisted. Habitat: weed in 

FIGURE 29. Avena barbata. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and blade. 

C. Inflorescence. D. Spikelet. A drawn from G. Täckholm s.n. (CAI); 

B–D drawn from G. Schweinfurth 1684 (US-805908).
4 0 • SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO BOTANY

cultivated areas and coastal sands. Distribution: (Mm) Mediterranean region.

23. Avena sativa* L. subsp. sativa

FIGURE 32

Avena sativa* L., Sp. Pl. 1: 79. 1753. 

Common names: shoufan; oats, strawoats.

Caespitose annuals. Culms 30–100 cm tall, erect; nodes 

dark; internodes glossy; butt sheaths glabrous. Leaves mostly 

basal; sheaths glabrous, margins membranous; oral hairs present; ligules 6–8 mm long, membranous, apex lacerate; blades 

5–30 cm long, 5–20 mm wide, linear, flat, spreading, scaberulous, margins scabrous, apex acute. Panicles 10–15 cm long, 

erect, terminal, open drooping, linear, equilateral or nodding. 

Spikelets 22–27 mm long, cuneate, laterally compressed; lemmas 2.0–3.2 cm long, awns 2.5–3.5 cm long, geniculate, column twisted. Habitat: weed in cultivated areas. Distribution: 

(Mm, Ms, Nv, Di, Ol) cultivated in temperate regions and 

escaped.

24. Avena sterilis L.

FIGURE 33

Avena sterilis L., Sp. Pl., ed. 2, 1: 118. 1762.

Common names: khafour, zommeir; animated oat.

Caespitose annuals. Culms 3–150 cm tall, erect, geniculate; 

nodes dark; internodes glossy; butt sheaths pubescent. Leaves 

FIGURE 30. Avena fatua. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and blade. 

C. Inflorescence. D. Spikelet. A, D drawn from T. Cope, A. Gamal, 

I. El Garf s.n. (CAI); B drawn from A. Archer 8643 (US-2236308); 

C modified from Cope (2005).

FIGURE 31. Avena longiglumis. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and 

blade. C. Floret. A–C drawn from Balansa s.n. (US-1126246).
NUMBER 103 • 4 1

mostly basal; sheaths sparsely hairy, margins membranous; oral 

hairs present; ligules 6–8 mm long, membranous, apex truncate; 

blades 10–15 cm long, 2–4 mm wide, linear, flat, spreading, 

scaberulous, margins scaberulous, apex acute. Panicles 10–45 

cm long, 5–25 cm wide, open, pyramidal, diffuse, nodding; 

principal branches drooping, scaberulous. Spikelets 23–50 mm 

long, cuneate, laterally compressed; lemmas 1.7–4.0 cm long, 

awns 3–8 cm long, geniculate, column twisted. Habitat: weed in 

cereal fields. Distribution: (Mm, Ms, Nv, Ol, On, S) S Mediterranean to India.

KEY TO THE SUBSPECIES

1a. Spikelets 3–5 cm long; lower lemma 2.5–4 cm long  . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

1b. Spikelets 2.5–3cm long; lower lemma 2–2.5 cm long . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  A. sterilis subsp. ludoviciana (Durieu) J. 

FIGURE 32. Avena sativa. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and blade. C.

Spikelet. A, B drawn from L. F. Ward s.n. (US-156655); C modified 

from Baum (2007).

FIGURE 33. Avena sterilis. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and blade. 

C. Spikelet. A, C drawn from L. Boulos s.n. (CAI), Ibrahim and 

Kabuye (1988); B drawn from D. Fairchild s.n. (US-1259904), H. I. 

Perraudiere s.n. (US-869913).
4 2 • SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO BOTANY

25. Brachypodium distachyon* (L.) P. Beauv.

FIGURE 34

Brachypodium distachyon* (L.) P. Beauv., Ess. Agrostogr. 101, 

155, 156. 1812.

Common names: lesseiq, sha’ir barri; purple false brome.

Caespitose annuals; rhizomes elongated. Culms 3–30 cm 

tall, decumbent, weak; internodes glabrous; nodes dark, bearded; 

butt sheaths glabrous. Leaves basal and cauline; sheaths striate, 

hairy, margins hairy; ligules 1–3 mm long, membranous, lacerate; blades 3–10 cm long, 1.5–4 mm wide, linear, flat, stiff, 

glaucous, ascending, pilose, margins ciliate, apex acute. Racemes 

2–8(–10) cm long, spreading along central axis, erect, terminal, bilateral, bearing few fertile spikelets. Spikelets 10–30 mm 

long, packed broadside to rachis, bilateral, embedded in rachis, 

oblong, laterally compressed; lemmas 7–10 mm long, awns 

8–12 mm long, straight; anthers 0.5–1 mm long. Habitat: weed 

in cultivated areas. Distribution: (Mm, Ms, Nv, Di, Ol, On, S, 

Ge) Mediterranean to C Asia.

26. Briza maxima* L.

FIGURE 35

Briza maxima* L., Sp. Pl. 1:70. 1753.

Common name: greater quaking grass.

Caespitose annuals. Culms 10–50 cm tall, erect; internodes 

glabrous, deeply striate; butt sheaths glabrous. Leaves basal and 

cauline; sheaths glabrous, margins membranous; ligules 3–5 mm 

long, membranous, apex dentate; blades 5–20 cm long, 3–10 mm 

wide, linear, flat, ascending, scabrous, margins scabrous, apex 

acute. Panicles 3.5–10 cm long, open, terminal, erect, comprising 

3–12 fertile spikelets. Spikelets 14–25 mm long, 8–15 mm wide, 

FIGURE 35. Briza maxima. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and blade. 

C. Inflorescence. D. Spikelet. A, C drawn from L. Boulos, M. Khalifa, N. Sherif 4119 (CAI); B, D drawn from G. Schweinfurth s.n.

(US-805956).

FIGURE 34. Brachypodium distachyon. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, 

and blade. C. Spikelet. A drawn from A. Amer 9592 (CAI); B, C 

drawn from E. Hackel s.n. (US-1015138).
NUMBER 103 • 4 3

pendulous, oblong or ovate, laterally compressed; fertile spikelets pedicels 5–20 mm long, filiform, recurved; lemmas 7–9 mm 

long, awnless; anthers 1.2–1.5 mm long. Habitat: introduced. 

Distribution: (Nn, Nv) Mediterranean.

27. Briza minor* L.

FIGURE 36

Briza minor* L., Sp. Pl. 1:70. 1753.

Common name: lesser quaking grass.

Caespitose annuals. Culms 10–50 cm tall, decumbent, geniculate, glabrous, striate; nodes dark; butt sheaths glabrous. 

Leaves basal and cauline; sheaths open, glabrous, margins 

membranous; ligules 3–6 mm long, membranous, apex truncate; blade 3–10 cm long, 3–6 mm wide, linear, flat, flaccid, 

scaberulous, margins scabrous, apex acute. Panicles 4–20 cm 

long, erect, open, obovate, bearing many spikelets. Spikelets 3–5 

mm long, 3–5 mm wide, pendulous, ovate or orbicular, laterally 

compressed; fertile spikelets pedicels 5–15 mm long, filiform, recurved; lemmas 1.6–2 mm long, awnless; anthers 0.4–0.5 mm 

long. Habitat: weed in cultivated areas. Distribution: (Ms, Nv) 

Mediterranean region.

28. Bromus aegyptiacus Tausch

FIGURE 37

Bromus aegyptiacus Tausch, Flora 20(1): 124. 1837. 

Common name: bakhragun el ghul.

Solitary annuals. Culms 20–50 cm tall, erect, geniculate; 

internodes glabrous, glaucous; nodes swollen; butt sheaths 

FIGURE 36. Briza minor. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and blade. 

C. Spikelet. A drawn from V. Täckholm 182 (CAI); B, C drawn 

from W. R. Anderson & D. C. Sternberg 3476 (US-2563915).

FIGURE 37. Bromus aegyptiacus. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, 

and blade. C. Spikelet. A–C drawn from G. Schweinfurth 1236

(US-805951).
4 4 • SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO BOTANY

glabrous. Leaves basal and cauline; sheaths closed, pilose, margins ciliate; ligules 1–3 mm long, membranous, lacerate; blades 

3–8 cm long, 1–3 mm wide, linear, flat, ascending, pilose, margins 

smooth, apex acute. Panicles 3–6 mm long, contracted, erect, terminal. Spikelets 14–20 mm long, oblong, laterally compressed; 

lemmas 6.5–8 mm long, awns 4–11 mm long, straight, bristly. 

Habitat: weed in cultivated areas. Distribution: (Nv, endemic to 

Egypt; Cope, 2005) SW Asia. 

29. Bromus alopecuros Poir.

FIGURE 38

Bromus alopecuros Poir., Voy. Barbarie 2: 100. 1789.

Common name: foxtail brome.

Solitary annuals. Culms 20–50 cm tall, erect, geniculate, 

internodes glabrous, glaucous; butt sheaths glabrous. Leaves 

basal and cauline; sheaths closed, pubescent, margins hairy; ligules 1–3 mm long, membranous, apex dentate; blades 5–20 cm 

long, 3–5 mm wide, linear, flat, ascending, hirsute, margins entire, apex acute. Panicles 6–20 cm long, 1–3 cm wide, open, linear or oblong, erect; panicle branches stiff, appressed. Spikelets 

24–45 mm long, 3–7 mm wide, lanceolate or ovate, laterally 

compressed; lemmas 1.1–1.8 cm long, awns 11–20 mm long, 

straight, bristly, coiled at the base. Habitat: location unconfirmed. Distribution: (Nv) E Mediterranean.

30. Bromus catharticus* Vahl

FIGURE 39

Bromus catharticus* Vahl, Symb. Bot. 2: 22. 1791. 

Common name: rescue grass.

Caespitose, short-lived perennials. Culms 20–70 cm tall, 

erect, geniculate, internodes glabrous, striate; butt sheaths 

sparsely hairy. Leaves basal and cauline; sheaths closed, pubescent, margins hairy; oral hairs present; ligules 1–3 mm, 

FIGURE 38. Bromus alopecuros. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and 

blade. C. Spikelet. A drawn from V. Täckholm 10 (CAI); B, C drawn 

from E. Hackel s.n. (US-1099625).

FIGURE 39. Bromus catharticus. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and 

blade. C. Inflorescence. D. Spikelet. A–D drawn from R. Kanal 434

(US-3279029).
NUMBER 103 • 4 5

membranous, apex erose; blades 10–30 cm long, 3–5 mm wide, 

linear flat, flaccid, spreading, hairy, margins smooth, apex acute. 

Panicles 10–40 cm long, open, oblong, diffuse; branches flexuous. Spikelets 16–40 mm long, 4–10 mm wide, ovate, laterally 

compressed, compressed strongly; lemmas 1.5–2 cm long, apex 

mucronate or awned, the awns 1–4(–9) mm long, straight, bristly. Habitat: cultivated areas and disturbed sites. Distribution: 

(Mm, Ms, Nv, Di, O) introduced from the New World. 

31. Bromus danthoniae Trin. ex C. A. Mey.

FIGURE 40

Bromus danthoniae Trin. ex C. A. Mey., Verz. Pfl. Casp. Meer. 

24. 1831.

Caespitose annuals. Culms 5–50 cm tall, erect, geniculate; internodes hispid; butt sheaths pubescent. Leaves basal 

and cauline; sheaths closed, tubular for most of their length, 

hairy, margins sparsely hairy; oral hairs present; ligules 1–3 mm 

long, membranous, apex dentate, lacerate; blades 2–8 cm long, 

2–4 mm wide, linear, flat, ascending, sparsely hairy or pubescent, 

margins cartilaginous, bases broad, apex acute. Panicles 2–10 cm 

long, 1–2 cm wide, open, ovate, dense; primary panicle branches 

simple scabrous. Spikelets 10–40 mm long, 4–10 mm wide, elliptic, laterally compressed; lemmas 0.8–1.2 cm long, 3-awned, 

the central awns 5–15 mm long, spreading, bristly, geniculate. 

Habitat: rocky slopes. Distribution: (S) E Mediterranean eastward to India.

32. Bromus diandrus Roth

FIGURE 41

Bromus diandrus Roth, Bot. Abh. Beobacht. 44. 1787.

Common names: great brome, longarm ripgut brome, ripgut 

brome.

FIGURE 40. Bromus danthoniae. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and 

blade. C. Spikelet. A drawn from Dahok s.n. (CAI); B, C drawn 

from J. B. Gillet s.n. (US-2209433), D. V. Mono s.n. (US-1009828).

FIGURE 41. Bromus diandrus. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and 

blade. C. Inflorescence. D. Spikelet. A drawn from V. Täckholm, 

L. Boulos & M. Zahran s.n. (CAI); B–D drawn from D. V. Monro 

s.n. (US-1009828).
4 6 • SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO BOTANY

Caespitose annuals. Culms 20–100 cm tall, erect, geniculate; internodes glabrous, striate, glossy; butt sheaths sparsely 

hairy. Leaves mostly basal; sheaths closed, hairy, margins membranous, hairy; oral hairs present; ligules 1–3 mm long, membranous, apex lacerate; blades 3–15 cm long, 1–5 mm wide, linear, 

flat, ascending, pilose and/or scaberulous, margins smooth, apex 

acute. Panicles 10–25 cm long, open, ovate, diffuse, nodding; 

primary panicle branches 3–10 cm long with 2–4 drooping 

branches, simple, bearing 1(–2) fertile spikelets on each lower 

branch, flexuous, scabrous. Spikelets (20–)45–60 mm long, 

cuneate, laterally compressed; lemmas 2.4–3.5 cm long, awns 

35–75 mm long, straight, bristly. Habitat: cultivated fields. Distribution: (Mm, Ms, Nv, Nn, Di, Ol) C and S Europe, N Africa, 

and SW Asia.

KEY TO THE VARIETIES

1a. Panicle lax, spreading, broadly ovate, the branches longer than spikelets; base of lemma in profile, contracted just above 

the callus; callus blunt with an oval scar  . . . . . . . . . . . . 

1b. Panicle contracted, stiffly erect, narrowly ovate, the branches usually shorter than the spikelets; base of lemma in profile, 

continuous with callus; callus pointed with an elliptic scar. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

33. Bromus fasciculatus C. Presl

FIGURE 42

Bromus fasciculatus C. Presl, Cyper. Gramin. Sicul. 39. 1820. 

Common names: abu fakhour, sabal abu el-hosein, safsouf.

Caespitose annuals. Culms 5–10 cm tall, erect, geniculate, 

surfaces hirsute; butt sheaths sparsely hairy. Leaves basal and 

cauline; sheaths closed, pubescent, margins smooth; oral hairs 

present; ligules 3–6 mm long, membranous, apex lacerate, 

blades 2–8 cm long, 1–1.5 mm wide, linear-filiform, flaccid, 

spreading, sparsely hairy, margins scabrous, apex acuminate. 

Panicles 2–6 cm long, 0.7–2 cm wide, obovate, contracted, 

erect; primary branches bearing 1(–2) fertile spikelets on each 

lower branch, pubescent. Spikelets 10–20 mm long, 5–12 mm 

wide, cuneate, laterally compressed; lemmas 1.1–1.5 cm long, 

awns 10–18 mm long, straight, bristly. Habitat: sandy and 

rocky slopes. Distribution: (Mm, Ms, Nv, Di, Ra, Ge) Mediterranean and SW Asia.

34. Bromus hordeaceus L.

FIGURE 43

Bromus hordeaceus L., Sp. Pl. 1: 77. 1753. 

Common name: soft brome.

Caespitose annuals; butt sheaths pubescent. Culms 

20–50 cm tall, erect, internodes glabrous, striate; nodes bearded; 

butt sheaths pubescent. Leaves basal and cauline; sheaths closed, 

scabrous, margins sparsely hairy; oral hairs present; ligules 

1–3 mm long, membranous, apex erose; blades 3–10 cm long, 

2–4 mm wide, linear, flat, ascending, hirsute or sparsely hairy, 

margins scabrous, apex acuminate. Panicles 1.5–16 cm long, 

0.5–6 cm wide, open, erect, ovate, equilateral or nodding; primary panicle branches bearing 1–7(–14) fertile spikelets on each 

lower branch, the branches pubescent. Spikelets 12–22 mm long, 

FIGURE 42. Bromus fasciculatus. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and 

blade. C. Spikelet. A drawn from V. Täckholm, M. Kassas, H. 

Fawzy, F. Shalaby & M. Zahran 1973 (CAI); B, C drawn from G. 

Schweinfurth (US-805952).
NUMBER 103 • 4 7

3.5–6(–8) mm wide, ovate, laterally compressed; lemmas 0.7–

1.2 cm long, awns 5–10 mm long, geniculate, bristly. Habitat: 

waste places. Distribution: (Nv) Europe, W Asia, introduced into 

N and S America, Australia, and temperate regions.

35. Bromus inermis* Leyss.

FIGURE 44

Bromus inermis* Leyss., Fl. Halens. 16. 1761. 

Common names: awnless brome, common brome, smooth brome.

Caespitose or solitary perennials; rhizomes short. Culms 

20–30 cm tall, erect; internodes pubescent, striate; butt sheaths 

glabrous with dead fibrous leaf sheaths. Leaves basal and cauline; sheaths closed, glabrous, margins smooth; ligules 1–3 mm 

long, membranous, apex erose; blades 2–8 cm long, 2–4 mm 

wide, linear, flat, flaccid, spreading, glabrous or scaberulous, 

margins smooth, apex acuminate. Panicles 10–15 cm long, 

4–10 cm wide, open or contracted, ovate, dense, equilateral 

or nodding; 3–4 primary panicle branches, each bearing 1–2 

fertile spikelets. Spikelets 15–25 mm long, 3–5 mm wide, oblong, laterally compressed; lemmas 1–1.3 cm long, awnless, 

mucronate or with a short awn up to 1.5 mm long. Habitat: 

Introduced as an agricultural weed. Distribution: (Nv) Europe 

and temperate Asia.

FIGURE 43. Bromus hordeaceus. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and 

blade. C. Spikelet. A, B drawn from S. F. Blake s.n. (US-1646029); 

C modified from Pavlick and Anderton (2007).

FIGURE 44. Bromus inermis. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and 

blade. C. Inflorescence. D. Spikelet. A–C drawn from R. Kanal 148

(US-3117677); D modified from Pavlick and Anderton (2007).
4 8 • SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO BOTANY

36. Bromus japonicus* Houtt.

FIGURE 45

Bromus japonicus* Houtt., Nat. Hist. 2(13): 315, t. 91, f. 4. 

Aanwyzing Pl. [2]. 1782. 

Common names: fakhour, safsouf; Japanese brome, Japanese 

chess.

Caespitose annuals. Culms 20–70 cm tall, erect, geniculate, 

glabrous; butt sheaths pubescent. Leaves basal and cauline; sheaths 

closed, hairy, margins ciliate, membranous; oral hairs present; ligules 1–3 mm long, membranous, apex erose; blades 6–10 cm long, 

1–3 mm wide, linear, conduplicate, spreading, glabrous or pubescent, margins scabrous, apex acuminate. Panicles 10–20 cm long, 

5–10 cm wide, open, ovate, diffuse; primary panicle branches 

spreading, drooping, multilateral or secund, scabrous. Spikelets 

15–35(–40) mm long, ovate, laterally compressed; lemmas 0.8–

1.2 cm long, awns 5–10 mm long, straight, bristly. Habitat: waste 

places. Distribution: (Mm) C Europe to Japan, introduced.

37. Bromus lanceolatus Roth

FIGURE 46

Bromus lanceolatus Roth, Catal. Bot. 1: 18. 1797. 

Common name: Mediterranean brome.

Caespitose annuals. Culms 10–80 cm tall, erect, geniculate; 

internodes glabrous, striate; nodes bearded; butt sheaths woolly. 

Leaves basal and cauline; sheaths closed, woolly, margins membranous, surfaces hairy; oral hairs ciliate; ligules 1–3 mm long, 

FIGURE 45. Bromus japonicus. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and 

blade. C. Spikelet. A–C drawn from H. A. Allard 630 (US-1678979).

FIGURE 46. Bromus lanceolatus. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and 

blade. C. Spikelet. A drawn from L. Boulos 3062 (CAI); B, C drawn 

from F. Wrigley 65/1274 (US-2640022).
NUMBER 103 • 4 9

membranous, apex lacerate; blades 10–12 cm long, 1–2.5 mm 

wide, linear, flat, flaccid, spreading, glabrous or pubescent, margins hairy, apex acuminate. Panicles (2–)6–12(–20) cm long, 

2–8 cm wide, lanceolate or ovate; primary panicle branches ascending or spreading. Spikelets (12–)25–50 mm long, 6–16 mm 

wide, lanceolate or oblong, laterally compressed; lemmas 1.1–1.4 

cm long, awns 6–12 mm long, straight, bristly. Habitat: rocky 

slopes and waste places. Distribution: (Nv) Europe, Mediterranean eastward to C Asia.

38. Bromus lepidus* Holmb.

FIGURE 47

Bromus lepidus* Holmb., Bot. Not. 1924: 326. 1924. 

Common name: slender soft brome.

Caespitose annuals; rhizomes short. Culms 20–35 cm tall, 

erect; internodes pubescent, striate; butt sheaths glabrous. Leaves 

basal and cauline; sheaths closed, sparsely hairy, margins hairy; 

oral hairs present; ligules 1–3 mm long, membranous, apex erose; 

blades 6–12 cm long, 1–2 mm wide, linear, flat, flaccid, spreading, 

pubescent, margins smooth, apex acute. Panicles 2–10 cm long, 

1–4 cm wide, open or contracted, lanceolate, equilateral or nodding; primary branches 2–4 cm long, bearing 1–3 fertile spikelets 

on each lower branch, branches pubescent. Spikelets 7–15 mm 

long, 2.5–5 mm wide, lanceolate or ovate, laterally compressed; 

lemmas 5–6.5 mm long, awns 3–7 mm long, straight. Habitat: 

cultivated areas. Distribution: (Nv) Europe, cultivated.

39. Bromus madritensis L.

FIGURE 48

Bromus madritensis L., Cent. Pl. I 5. 1755. 

Common names: abu keneitla, deil el taalab; foxtail chess.

FIGURE 47. Bromus lepidus. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and blade. 

C. Inflorescence. D. Spikelet. A drawn from M. Hassib s.n. (CAI); 

B–D drawn from R. Olsen s.n. (US-1816226).

FIGURE 48. Bromus madritensis. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and 

blade. C. Spikelet. A drawn from M. Hassib s.n. (CAI); B, C drawn 

from H. Thompson s.n. (US-1646850).
5 0 • SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO BOTANY

Caespitose annuals. Culms 10–60 cm tall, erect, geniculate; 

internodes glabrous, straw colored; butt sheaths glabrous. Leaves 

basal and cauline; sheaths much longer than blades, hairy, closed, 

margins smooth; ligules 1–3 mm long, membranous, apex lacerate; blades 3–15 cm long, 1.5–3 mm wide, linear, flat, flaccid, 

spreading, glabrous or pubescent, margins smooth, apex acute. 

Panicles 4–15 cm long, 1.5–6 cm wide, erect, contracted, ovate; 

primary panicle branches 0.5–3.5 cm long, ascending bearing 

1–3 fertile spikelets on each lower branch, branches straight, 

scabridulous. Spikelets 20–45 mm long, cuneate, laterally compressed; lemmas 1.3–2 cm long, awns 12–20 mm long, straight, 

bristly. Habitat: sandy soils and cultivated areas. Distribution: 

(Mm, Ms, S) S Mediterranean to SW Asia.

40. Bromus pectinatus Thunb.

FIGURE 49

Bromus pectinatus Thunb., Prodr. Fl. Cap. 1: 22. 1794. 

Common names: safsouf, yadaab.

Caespitose annuals. Culms 10–30 cm tall, erect, geniculate, weak; internodes pubescent, striate; butt sheaths glabrous. 

Leaves basal and cauline; sheaths hairy, closed at least near base, 

margins hairy; oral hairs present; ligules 1.5–3 mm long, membranous, apex lacerate; blades 4–10 cm long, 1–2.5 mm wide, 

linear, flat, flaccid and spreading, pubescent, margins smooth, 

apex acute. Panicles 5–25 cm long, erect, oblong; primary panicle branches drooping, scabrous. Spikelets 13–30 mm long, oblong or cuneate, laterally compressed; lemmas 0.75–1.5 cm long, 

awns 9–17 mm long, straight, bristly. Habitat: sandy and rocky 

slopes. Distribution: (Di, S, Ra, Ge) tropical, southern Africa to 

Europe and E Asia.

41. Bromus pulchellus Eig & De Not.

FIGURE 50

Bromus pulchellus Eig & De Not., Mem. Reale Accad. Sci. Torino, ser. 2, 12: 260. 1852.

FIGURE 50. Bromus pulchellus. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and 

blade. C. Spikelet. A–C drawn from J. R. Shabetai s.n. (K-H2011/

01927).

FIGURE 49. Bromus pectinatus. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and 

blade. C. Spikelet. A drawn from M. Mahdi 2248 (CAI); B, C drawn 

from N. Parmanand 513 (US-1983379).
NUMBER 103 • 5 1

Caespitose annuals. Culms 10–25 cm tall, geniculate, weak; 

internodes glabrous; butt sheaths sparsely hairy. Leaves basal 

and cauline; sheaths closed, glabrous, margins smooth; oral 

hairs present; ligules 3–6 mm long, membranous, apex lacerate, 

dentate; blades 2–8 cm long, 1–1.5 mm, linear-filiform, flaccid, 

spreading, pilose, apex acuminate. Panicles 5–25 cm long, open, 

erect, terminal. Spikelets 13–30 mm long; lemmas 0.75–1.5 cm 

long, awns 7–17 mm long, reflexed, bristly. Habitat: sandy and 

gravelly areas. Distribution: (Di) Iran, Pakistan, and C Asia.

42. Bromus pumilio (Trin.) P. M. Sm.

FIGURE 51

Bromus pumilio (Trin.) P. M. Sm., Feddes Repert. 79: 338. 1969. 

[Boissiera squarrosa (Banks & Sol.) Nevski.] 

Common names: el-ehaim, fakhour.

Caespitose annuals. Culms 5–15 cm tall, erect, scabrous; 

butt sheaths pubescent. Leaves mostly cauline; sheaths sparsely 

hairy, upper portion tubular for much of their length, margins 

scabrous; oral hairs present; ligules 1–3 mm long, membranous, 

apex lacerate, dentate; blades 2–8 cm long, 1–1.5 mm wide, linear, flat or involute, flaccid, pubescent, margins scabrous, apex 

acute. Panicles 2–7 cm long, 2–3.5 cm wide, compact, erect, 

terminal, ovoid. Spikelets 10–17 mm long, lanceolate, laterally compressed; 5–9-awned; lemmas 10.5–13 mm long, awns 

6–14 mm long. Habitat: sandy and stony soils. Distribution: (Nv, 

Dg, S) Mediterranean to C Asia.

43. Bromus rubens L.

FIGURE 52

Bromus rubens L., Cent. Pl. I 5. 1755. 

Common names: abu keneitla, abu shtert, deil el ta’leb; red 

brome.

FIGURE 51. Bromus pumilio. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and blade. 

C. Spikelet. A, C drawn from V. Täckholm, M. Kassas, N. Haddidi 

s.n. (CAI); B drawn from K. H. Rechinger 31276 (US-2637440).

FIGURE 52. Bromus rubens. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and blade. 

C. Spikelet. A drawn from Oliver s.n. (CAI); B, C drawn from 

J. Bornmuller 5662 (US-1127902).
5 2 • SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO BOTANY

Caespitose annuals. Culms 10–25 cm tall, erect, geniculate; 

internodes glabrous; butt sheaths woolly. Leaves basal and cauline; sheaths closed, pubescent to pilose, margins scabrous; ligules 3–6 mm long, membranous, apex lacerate; blades 2.5–5 cm 

long,1.5–2.5 mm wide, linear, conduplicate, ascending, hirsute, 

margins scabrous, apex acuminate. Panicles 5–10 cm long, 

2–5 cm wide, erect, dense, spiciform, obovate; panicle branches 

pubescent, fertile spikelets pediceled. Spikelets 15–30 mm long, 

2–6 mm wide, cuneate, laterally compressed; lemmas 1–1.5 cm 

long, awns 7–23 mm long, straight, bristly. Habitat: sandy areas. 

Distribution: (Mm, Ms, Nv, Ol) Mediterranean and SW Asia.

44. Bromus scoparius L.

FIGURE 53

Bromus scoparius L., Cent. Pl. I 6. 1755. 

Common name: broom brome.

Caespitose annuals. Culms 10–40 cm tall, erect, geniculate; 

internodes glabrous, straw colored; nodes dark; butt sheaths glabrous. Leaves basal and cauline; sheaths closed, hairy, margins 

smooth; oral hairs present; ligules 1–3 mm long, membranous, 

apex lacerate; blades 6–15 cm long, 1.5–2.5 mm wide, linearfiliform, flaccid, spreading, pilose, margins sparsely hairy, apex 

acuminate. Panicles 1–7 cm long, 0.5–3 cm wide, ellipsoid, 

open or contracted, oblong or obovate, dense; primary panicle 

branches 0.3–0.4 cm long. Spikelets 10–15 mm long, 2–3 mm 

wide, oblong or ovate, laterally compressed; lemmas 0.6–1.1 cm 

long, awns 4–10 mm long, straight or recurved, bristly. Habitat: 

weed in cultivated areas. Distribution: (Mm, Ms, Nv, Di) Mediterranean region to NW India.

45. Bromus sterilis* L.

FIGURE 54

Bromus sterilis* L., Sp. Pl. 1: 77. 1753. 

Common names: barren brome, poverty brome.

FIGURE 54. Bromus sterilis. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and 

blade. C. Inflorescence. D. Spikelet. A–D drawn from R. Kanal 

347 (US-3230392).

FIGURE 53. Bromus scoparius. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and 

blade. C. Spikelet. A drawn from V. Täckholm s.n (CAI); B, C 

drawn from E. Hackel s.n. (US-1009935).
NUMBER 103 • 5 3

Caespitose annuals. Culms 10–35 cm tall, erect, geniculate, 

weak; internodes glabrous; butt sheaths glabrous. Leaves basal 

and cauline; sheaths closed, sparsely hairy, margins hairy; oral 

hairs present; ligules 1–3 mm long, membranous, apex lacerate; blades 2–15 cm long, 1.5–2.5 mm wide, linear, flat, flaccid, spreading, sparely hairy to pilose, apex acuminate. Panicles 

5–25 cm long, open, ovate, effuse, nodding; primary panicle 

branches 2–10 cm long, drooping, simple, bearing 1(–3) fertile 

spikelets on each lower branch, branches flexuous, scaberulous. 

Spikelets 20–35 mm long, cuneate, laterally compressed; lemmas 

1.5–2 cm long, awns 15–40 mm long, straight, bristly. Habitat: 

weed in cultivated and waste places. Distribution: (unconfirmed) 

Europe and SW Asia.

46. Bromus tectorum L.

FIGURE 55

Bromus tectorum L., Sp. Pl. 1: 77. 1753.

Common names: abu fakhur, abu keneitla, sabal abu el hosein, 

safsouf; cheatgrass, downy brome, downy chess, June grass.

Caespitose or solitary annuals. Culms 10–20 cm tall, erect, 

geniculate, weak; internodes glabrous; butt sheaths woolly. 

Leaves basal and cauline; sheaths closed, sparsely hairy, margins 

smooth; oral hairs present; ligules 3–6 mm long, membranous, 

apex lacerate; blades 4–15 cm long, 1–3 mm wide, linear, flat, 

flaccid, spreading, pubescent, margins scabrous, apex acuminate. 

Panicles 4–18 cm long, contracted, erect, oblong, interrupted 

(branches clustered), nodding; primary panicle branches drooping, bearing 5–8 fertile spikelets on each lower branch, branches 

flexuous, scaberulous. Spikelets 10–25 mm long, cuneate, laterally compressed; lemmas 1–1.4 cm long, awns 2.5–6 mm long, 

straight, bristly. Habitat: sandy and rocky slopes. Distribution: 

(Mm, Ms, Di, S) temperate Old World.

KEY TO THE SUBSPECIES

1a. Lower glumes 1-nerved; callus of each fertile floret well differentiated, the florets falling separately . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

lb. Lower glumes 3-nerved; callus well differentiated in the lower floret only, the florets falling as a unit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

47. Catapodium rigidum (L.) C. E. Hubb.

FIGURE 56

Catapodium rigidum (L.) C. E. Hubb., Fl. Bedfordshire 437. 

1953. 

Common name: ferngrass.

Caespitose annuals. Culms 2–10 cm tall, erect or ascending, 

weak; internodes glabrous; butt sheaths glabrous. Leaves basal 

and cauline; sheaths glabrous, margins membranous, smooth; 

collars ciliate; ligules 1–3 mm long, membranous, apex lacerate; blades 4–10 cm long, 1–3 mm wide, linear, flat or filiform, 

wiry, flaccid, spreading, scaberulous, margins scabrous, apex 

FIGURE 55. Bromus tectorum. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and 

blade. C. Spikelet. A, B drawn from E. C. Leonard 2/830 (US2462603); C modified from Pavlick and Anderton (2007). 
5 4 • SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO BOTANY

acuminate. Panicles 1–8 cm long, 0.5–2.5 cm wide, open or contracted, linear, lanceolate or ovate, secund, composed of racemes 

spreading along central axis, racemes single or borne along a 

central axis, unilateral. Spikelets 4–7 mm long, oblong, laterally 

compressed; lemmas 2–2.5 mm long, awnless. Habitat: coastal 

sand and rocky slopes. Distribution: (Mm) S and W Europe, 

Mediterranean, and SW Asia.

48. Cenchrus americanus (L.) Morrone

FIGURE 57

Cenchrus americanus (L.) Morrone, Ann. Bot. (Oxford), n.s., 

106: 127. 2010. [Cenchrus spicatus (L.) Cav., Pennisetum 

glaucum (L.) R. Br.]

Common names: dakhn; cattail millet, pearl millet.

Caespitose annuals; butt sheaths glabrous. Culms up to 

300 cm tall robust, rough; butt sheaths glabrous. Leaves basal 

and cauline; sheaths slightly flattened, hairy on basal 1⁄3, margins smooth; oral hairs ciliate; collars dark; ligules a fringe of 

hairs; blades 20–100 cm long, 8–50 mm wide, linear, flat or 

conduplicate, spreading, flaccid, scabrous, hairy on basal 1⁄3, 

margins smooth, apex acute. Panicles 4–20 cm long, 0.8–5.5 cm 

wide, spiciform, linear, elliptic or ovate, partially included in the 

sheath. Spikelets 3–6 mm long, obovate, dorsally compressed, 

subtended by involucres of bristles; lemmas awnless. Habitat: 

weed in cultivated cereal fields. Distribution: (Nn, Nv, Ol, On, 

Da, Dg, Dl, Dn, Ge) tropics important in Africa.

FIGURE 56. Catapodium rigidum. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and 

blade. C. Spikelet. A drawn from E. Zetterstedt s.n. (CAI); B, C 

drawn from J. Gay s.n. (US-1007123). FIGURE 57. Cenchrus americanus. A. Flag leaf and inflorescence. B. Ligule, sheath, and blade. C. Spikelets with lower (left) 

and upper (right) glumes. A modified from Ibrahim and Kabuye 

(1988); B drawn from R. Dũmmer s.n. (US-634944); C modified 

from Hitchcock (1951).
NUMBER 103 • 5 5

49. Cenchrus biflorus Roxb.

FIGURE 58

Cenchrus biflorus Roxb., Fl. Ind. 1: 238. 1820.

Caespitose annuals. Culms 10–90 cm tall, erect or ascending; internodes glabrous, glossy or pubescent; nodes dark colored; lateral branches ample, extravaginal, arising from lower 

culms or mid culms; butt sheaths glabrous. Leaves basal and 

cauline; sheaths open for most of their length, flattened, keeled, 

glabrous, margins smooth; oral hairs present or bearded; collars dark, pubescent; ligules 2 mm long, a fringe of hairs; blades 

2–20 cm long, 1–5 mm wide, linear or lanceolate, sparsely hairy, 

scabrous, margins scabrous, bases simple, apex acuminate. Panicles 2–15 cm long, spiciform; involucres 0.4–1.1 cm long, ovoid; 

inner bristles flattened, united at the base to form a shallow disk 

2–4 mm in diameter. Spikelets 3.5–6 mm long, 1–1.5 mm wide, 

ovate, dorsally compressed, acuminate, subtended by involucres 

of bristles; lemmas awnless. Habitat: hillsides and waste places. 

Distribution: (Nv) tropical Africa to India.

50. Cenchrus ciliaris L.

FIGURE 59

Cenchrus ciliaris L., Mant. Pl. 2: 302. 1771. [Pennisetum ciliare

(L.) Link.]

Common names: abu rokeiba, hemri, rigl el-ghorab; blue buffel 

grass, buffel grass.

Caespitose perennials; rhizomes short. Culms 10–50 cm 

tall, erect, geniculate; internodes sparsely hairy; nodes bearded, 

sometimes rooting below; butt sheaths pubescent. Leaves basal 

FIGURE 58. Cenchrus biflorus. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and 

blade. C. Spikelet. A drawn from A. Amer 10682 (CAI); B, C drawn 

from A. Anderson s.n. (US-2949200).

FIGURE 59. Cenchrus ciliaris. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and 

blade. C. Spikelet. A drawn from Abu Raya s.n. (CAI); B, C drawn 

from W. A. Archer 10149 (US-2236373).
5 6 • SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO BOTANY

and cauline; sheaths loose, strongly compressed, open, sparsely 

hairy, margins smooth; oral hairs present; ligules 1 mm long, 

a fringe of hairs; blades 4–20 cm long, 2–8 mm wide, linear, 

flat, ascending, stiff, ribbed, scabrous, pilose or glabrous, margins scabrous, apex acuminate. Panicles 2–14 cm long, 1–2.6 cm 

wide; involucres 0.6–1.6 cm long, elongated; inner bristles much 

exceeding the spikelets, one longer and stouter than the rest. 

Spikelets 2–5.5 mm long, lanceolate, dorsally compressed, acute, 

subtended by an involucre of bristles; lemmas awnless. Habitat: 

desert valleys and waste places. Distribution: (Mm, Nv, Nn, Di, 

S, Ge) tropical and S Africa to India.

51. Cenchrus clandestinus* 

(Hochst. ex Chiov.) Morrone

FIGURE 60

Cenchrus clandestinus* (Hochst. ex Chiov.) Morrone, Ann. Bot. 

(Oxford), n.s., 106: 127. 2010. [Pennisetum clandestinum

Hochst. ex Chiov.]

Common name: Kikuyu grass.

Mat-forming perennials; rhizomes elongated; stolons stout, 

rampant. Culms 3–10 cm tall, decumbent; internodes glabrous; 

lower nodes rooting; butt sheaths glabrous. Leaves basal and cauline; sheaths open for most of their length, flattened, hairy on basal 

1⁄3, margins smooth; oral hairs present; ligule a fringe of hairs; 

blades 1–10 cm long, 1–3 mm wide, linear, flat or conduplicate, 

spreading, flaccid, scabrous, hairy on 1⁄3, margins smooth, apex obtuse. Panicles 4–15 mm long, comprising a few spikelets, compact, 

partially included in the sheath; spikelets subtended by involucre of 

bristles, deciduous with the fertile spikelets. Spikelets 10–20 mm 

long, lanceolate, dorsally compressed; lemmas awnless. Habitat: 

introduced, cultivated fodder. Distribution: (Mm) tropical Africa.

52. Cenchrus echinatus* L.

FIGURE 61

Cenchrus echinatus* L., Sp. Pl. 2: 1050. 1753. 

Common name: southern sandbur.

FIGURE 61. Cenchrus echinatus. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and 

blade. C. Spikelet. A drawn from F. Hioram s.n. (CAI); B, C drawn 

from A. Bogdan (US-2946181).

FIGURE 60. Cenchrus clandestinus. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and 

blade. C. Shoot apex. D. Spikelet. A modified from Ibrahim and Kabuye (1988); B–D drawn from W. A. Archer 10077 (US-2236357).
NUMBER 103 • 5 7

Caespitose annuals. Culms 10–70 cm tall, erect, geniculate; 

internodes glabrous, striate, glossy; nodes dark; butt sheaths 

glabrous. Leaves basal and cauline; sheaths flattened or keeled, 

open, pubescent, margins hairy; oral hairs present; ligule a fringe 

of hairs; blades 4–20 cm long, 2–8 mm wide, linear, flat, flaccid, spreading, sparsely hairy, margins scabrous or spinose, apex 

acuminate. Panicles 2–10 cm long, spiciform, linear, interrupted; 

involucres 0.5–1 cm wide, globose; inner spines flattened, connate for 1⁄2 their length, retrorsely barbellate; outer spines rigid, 

mostly shorter than the inner. Spikelets 5–7 mm long, ovate, dorsally compressed, acuminate; lemmas awnless. Habitat: weed in 

waste places. Distribution: (Nv) warmer parts of the New World.

53. Cenchrus longisetus* M. C. Johnst.

FIGURE 62

Cenchrus longisetus* M. C. Johnst., Sida 1(3): 182. 1963. [Pennisetum villosum R. Br. ex Fresen.]

Common name: feathertop grass.

Mat-forming perennials; rhizomes elongated. Culms 

10–55 cm long, erect, geniculate or decumbent; internodes glabrous; lower nodes rooting; butt sheaths pubescent. Leaves basal 

and cauline; sheaths flattened, open, surfaces glabrous, margins 

sparingly hairy; auricles absent; oral hairs present; ligule a fringe 

of hairs; blades 5–15 cm long, 2–5 mm wide, linear, flat, spreading, flaccid, surfaces scabrous, margins smooth, apex acute. Panicles 2–12 cm long, 1–2 cm wide, erect, terminal, compact, oblong, 

ovate or globose, partially included in sheaths. Spikelets 9–14 mm 

long, lanceolate, dorsally compressed, cuspidate, subtended by an 

involucre of bristles. Habitat: cultivated ornamental, sometimes 

escaping. Distribution: (Mm, Nv) NE tropical Africa and Arabia.

54. Cenchrus orientalis (Rich.) Morrone

FIGURE 63

Cenchrus orientalis (Rich.) Morrone, Ann. Bot. (Oxford), n.s., 

106: 128. 2010. [Pennisetum orientale Rich.] 

Common names: nessie, sabat; oriental fountain grass.

FIGURE 62. Cenchrus longisetus. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and 

blade. C. Spikelet. A drawn from G. Innes 8256 (US-3690547); B, C 

drawn from E. Hubbard (US-3090541).

FIGURE 63. Cenchrus orientalis. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and 

blade. C. Spikelet. A drawn from N. El Hadidi, A. Hosny, H. Barakat s.n. (CAI); B, C drawn from R. P. Stewart 23271 (US-2011727).
5 8 • SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO BOTANY

Caespitose perennials; rhizomes short. Culms up to 200 cm 

tall, lateral branching fastigiate, erect, geniculate, woody; butt 

sheaths tough, withering, glabrous. Leaves basal and cauline; 

sheaths glabrous, open, ribbed, margins smooth; ligule a fringe 

of hairs; blades 30–60 cm long, 5–15 mm wide, linear, convolute, ascending, stiff, pubescent or scabrous, margins scabrous, 

bases narrow, apex acuminate. Panicles 8–30 cm long, spiciform, 

continuous or interrupted. Spikelets 4.5–6.5 mm long, lanceolate, dorsally compressed, subtended by an involucre of bristles; 

lemmas awnless. Habitat: rocky desert. Distribution: (Dg, Da, S) 

N Africa to northern India and S Asia.

55. Cenchrus pennisetiformis 

Hochst. & Steud.

FIGURE 64

Cenchrus pennisetiformis Hochst. & Steud., Syn. Pl. Glumac. 1: 

109. 1854. 

Common names: ribaay, yadaab, za’abal; cloncurry buffel grass.

Caespitose annuals or short-lived perennials. Culms 10–50 

cm tall, erect, geniculate; internodes glabrous, striate; butt sheaths 

glabrous. Leaves basal and cauline; sheaths pubescent, margins 

membranous, smooth; oral hairs present; ligules 1–2 mm long, 

a fringe of hairs; blades 2–20 cm long, 2–5 mm wide, linear, flat, 

spreading, flaccid, glabrous, glaucous, margins ciliate, apex acuminate. Panicles 2–6 cm long, spiciform, linear to oblong. Spikelets 

3–5 mm long, lanceolate or ovate, dorsally compressed, subtended 

by an involucre of bristles; lemmas awnless. Habitat: sandy areas. 

Distribution: (Nv, Ol, Di, Ra, Ge) E tropical Africa to India.

56. Cenchrus ramosissimus Poir.

FIGURE 65

Cenchrus ramosissimus Poir., Encycl. 6: 51. 1804. [Pennisetum 

divisum (Forssk. ex J. F. Gmel.) Henrard.] 

Common name: khafoor.

FIGURE 64. Cenchrus pennisetiformis. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, 

and blade. C. Spikelet. A–C drawn from M. G. Gillbert & M. Thulin 

1248 (US-3077911).

FIGURE 65. Cenchrus ramosissimus. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, 

and blade. C. Inflorescence. D. Spikelet. A drawn from Lawand s.n.

(CAI); B–D drawn from J. Humbles 10037 (US-2852669).
NUMBER 103 • 5 9

Bushy perennials; rhizomes knotty, short. Culms up to 

150 cm tall, erect, woody, rough; internodes glabrous, striate; 

nodes dark; butt sheaths glabrous. Leaves basal and cauline, 

glaucous; sheaths longer than blades, flattened, open, ribbed, 

margins membranous; oral hairs present; ligule a fringe of hairs; 

blades 3–7 cm long, 1–2 mm wide, linear, involute, appressed, 

straight, deciduous at the ligules, scabrous, glaucous, margins 

smooth, apex spiny, pungent. Panicles 5–12 cm long, spiciform, 

oblong; primary branches accrescent to a central axis; involucres 7–20 mm long, consisting of 1 sessile spikelet borne on a 

short oblong stipe. Spikelets 6.5–8.5 mm long lanceolate, dorsally compressed, falling entire, deciduous with accessory branch 

structures; lemmas awnless. Habitat: sandy soils. Distribution: 

(Nv, Dl, Dg, Di, Ol, On, S, Rz, Rq, Ra) N Africa to India.

57. Cenchrus setaceus (Forssk.) Morrone

FIGURE 66

Cenchrus setaceus (Forssk.) Morrone, Ann. Bot. (Oxford), n.s., 

106: 129. 2010. [Pennisetum setaceum (Forssk.) Chiov.] 

Common names: banias, hadaa, halfa, hanteeb, retem, sabat; 

purple fountain grass.

Densely caespitose perennials. Culms 20–100 cm tall, erect, 

woody, lateral branching fastigiate; butt sheaths glabrous. Leaves 

basal and cauline; internodes glabrous, glaucous; sheaths glabrous, margins ciliate; oral hairs present; ligule a fringe of hairs; 

blades 10–30 cm long, 1–3 mm wide, glaucous, linear, convolute, 

spreading, with noticeably thickened midrib on the upper surface, 

scabrous, margins smooth, apex acute. Panicles 6–30 cm long, 

spiciform, linear; involucre enclosing 1 sessile and 0–2 pedicellate 

spikelets. Spikelets 4.5–6.5 mm long, lanceolate, dorsally compressed, subtended by an involucre of bristles; lemmas awnless. 

Habitat: deserts and weed of cultivated gardens. Distribution: 

(Mm, Nv, Di, S, Ge) E tropical and N Africa to SW Asia.

58. Cenchrus setiger Vahl

FIGURE 67

Cenchrus setiger Vahl, Enum. Pl. 2: 395. 1806. 

Common names: hanteeb, yaraab; birdwood grass.

FIGURE 66. Cenchrus setaceus. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and 

blade. C. Inflorescence D. Spikelet. A drawn from L. Boulos & Khalifa 3753 (CAI); B–D drawn from A. Balsinas 3490 (US-3193078).

FIGURE 67. Cenchrus setiger. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and 

blade. C. Inflorescence. D. Spikelet. A, C modified from Ibrahim and 

Kabuye (1988); B, D drawn from W. Burger 3211 (US-2465134).
6 0 • SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO BOTANY

Caespitose perennials. Culms 10–70 cm tall, erect, geniculate, weak; internodes glabrous; nodes dark; butt sheaths pubescent, forming bulbous bases. Leaves basal and cauline; sheaths 

longer than adjacent internodes, hairy; oral hairs present; ligules 

1–2 mm long, a fringe of hairs; blades 4–20 cm long, 2–6 mm 

wide, linear, flat, ascending, sparsely hairy, margins scabrous, 

apex acuminate. Panicles 2–12 cm long, spiciform, linear; involucres 3–7 mm, cup shaped. Spikelets 3–5 mm long, ovate, dorsally compressed, acuminate, subtended by involucre of connate 

bristles, 1–3 per involucre; lemmas awnless. Habitat: sandy soils 

and weed of cultivation. Distribution: (Ol, Ra, Ge) E tropical 

Africa, Arabia to India.

59. Cenchrus sieberianus (Schltdl.) Verloove

FIGURE 68

Cenchrus sieberianus (Schltdl.) Verloove, Willdenowia 42(1): 

78. 2012. [Pennisetum sieberianum (Schldl.) Stapf & C. E. 

Hubb.]

Caespitose annuals; rhizomes absent. Culms up to 120 cm 

tall, erect, robust; internodes tomentose; nodes bearded; butt 

sheaths glabrous. Leaves basal and cauline; sheaths open, hairy, 

margins smooth; oral hairs present; ligule a fringe of hairs; blades 

50–100 cm long, 20–40 mm wide, linear, flat, spreading, flaccid, 

hairy on basal 1⁄3, margins ciliate, apex acute. Panicles 5–15 cm 

long, 1–3 cm wide, compact, linear, partially included in sheaths. 

Spikelets 4–6 mm long, lanceolate, elliptic or obovate, dorsally 

compressed, subtended by involucres of bristles; lemmas awnless. Habitat: weed of cultivation. Distribution: (Nv, Nn, Da, Ol, 

On, Ge) cultivated in the tropics.

60. Cenchrus violaceus* (Lam.) Morrone

FIGURE 69

Cenchrus violaceus* (Lam.) Morrone., Ann. Bot. (Oxford), n.s., 

106: 130. 2010. [Pennisetum violaceum (Lam.) Rich. ex Pers.]

Annuals forming patchy cushions. Culms 3–10 m long, decumbent; internodes glabrous; lower nodes rooting; butt sheaths 

FIGURE 68. Cenchrus sieberianus. A. Inflorescence and culm. 

B. Ligule, sheath, and blade. C. Spikelet. A drawn from L. Boulos 

s.n. (CAI); B, C drawn from J. G. Adam 19906 (US-2464577).

FIGURE 69. Cenchrus violaceus. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and 

blade. C. Inflorescence. D. Spikelet. A drawn from N. El Hadidi s.n.

(CAI); B–D drawn from J. G. Adam 19906 (US-2464693). 
NUMBER 103 • 6 1

glabrous. Leaves basal and cauline; sheaths flattened, open, hairy 

on basal 1⁄3, margins smooth; oral hairs present; collars dark; 

ligule a fringe of hairs; blades 1–10 cm long, 1–3 mm wide, hairy, 

linear, flat or conduplicate, spreading, flaccid, scabrous, margins 

smooth, apex acute. Panicles 2.5–20 cm long, 0.8–2 cm wide, 

spiciform, partially included in sheaths. Spikelets 4–7 mm long, 

lanceolate, dorsally compressed, subtended by an involucre of 

bristles; lemmas awnless. Habitat: weed of cultivation. Distribution: (Nv) tropical Africa and the foothills of Saharan mountains.

61. Centropodia forskalii (Vahl) Cope

FIGURE 70

Centropodia forskalii (Vahl) Cope, Kew Bull. 37: 658. 1983. 

Common names: negil el naaga, qamh el afrit.

Caespitose perennials or facultative annuals. Culms 10–50 

cm tall, erect, solid, pubescent; butt sheaths glabrous. Leaves basal 

and cauline; sheaths longer than adjacent internodes, strongly 

compressed, surfaces ribbed, pubescent, margins membranous; 

oral hairs present; ligules 1–2 mm long, a fringe of hairs; blades 

1–7 cm long, 2–5 mm wide, flat, stiff, appressed, sparsely hairy, 

margins scabrous, apex pungent. Panicles 1–20 cm long, 0.5–2 cm 

wide, erect, terminal, contracted, elongated, partially included in 

sheath. Spikelets 7–9 mm long, lanceolate, laterally compressed; 

lemmas 3.7–5.2 mm long, awns 3–5 mm long, straight. Habitat: 

sandy soils in dunes and gravelly sites. Distribution: (Mm, Ms, Nv, 

Nn, Dl, Di. S, Ge) tropical and N Africa to C Asia.

62. Centropodia fragilis 

(Guinet & Sauvage) Cope

FIGURE 71

Centropodia fragilis (Guinet & Sauvage) Cope, Kew Bull. 37: 

658. 1983.

Caespitose perennials; rhizomes knotty, short; root gathering sand. Culms 50–120 cm tall, erect, solid, pubescent; 

butt sheaths glabrous. Leaves basal and cauline; sheaths hairy, 

FIGURE 70. Centropodia forskalii. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and 

blade. C. Spikelet. A drawn from A. Amer 9358 (CAI); B, C drawn 

from J. Bornmuller 11082 (US-1127795). 

FIGURE 71. Centropodia fragilis. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and 

blade. C. Inflorescence. D. Spikelet. A drawn from M. Drar 61413 

(CAI), B–D drawn from S. Chaudharry s.n. (K- H2012/00899).
6 2 • SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO BOTANY

margins membranous; oral hairs present; ligules 1 mm long, a 

fringe of hairs; blades 2–10 cm long, 2–4 mm wide, deciduous 

at the ligules, linear, filiform, stiff, appressed, surfaces ribbed, 

pubescent, margins scabrous, apex pungent. Panicles 15–30 cm 

long, 2–3 cm wide, contracted, linear or lanceolate, partially included in sheath. Spikelets 8–10 mm long, lanceolate, laterally 

compressed; lemmas 4.8–6 mm long, awns 3 mm long. Habitat: 

sandy and gravelly soils. Distribution: (Di) N Africa to Arabia.

63. Chloris flagellifera (Nees) P. M. Peterson

FIGURE 72

Chloris flagellifera (Nees) P. M. Peterson, Taxon 64(3): 458. 

2015. [Ochthochloa compressa (Forssk.) Hilu; Panicum 

compressa Forssk. non Chloris compressa DC.]

Caespitose perennials; stolons present. Culms up to 100 

cm tall, prostrate, decumbent; internodes glabrous; butt sheaths 

glabrous. Leaves basal and cauline; sheaths flattened, ribbed, 

glabrous, margins membranous; oral hairs present; ligules 1–2 

mm long, ciliolate membranes; blades 5–40 cm long, 1–3 mm 

wide, glaucous, linear, flat, spreading, straight, scabrous or pilose, 

margins scabrous, apex acuminate, spiny, pungent. Inflorescences 

1.5– 4.5 cm long with (2–)3–5 digitately arranged racemes, the 

racemes spreading. Spikelets 6–8 mm long, elliptic or oblong, laterally compressed; 4–5.6 mm long, awnless. Habitat: sandy and 

rocky slopes. Distribution: (Ra, Ge) NE Africa to NW India.

64. Chloris gayana Kunth

FIGURE 73

Chloris gayana Kunth, Révis. Gramin. 1: 293, pl. 58. 1830. 

Common name: rhodes grass.

Caespitose perennials; stolons present. Culms up to 200 cm 

tall, erect, geniculate; internodes glabrous, striate; occasionally 

FIGURE 72. Chloris flagellifera. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and 

blade. C. Inflorescence. D. Spikelet. A, C drawn from Khodeir s.n.

(CAI); B, D drawn from W. Burger 2903 (US-2465131).

FIGURE 73. Chloris gayana. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and blade. 

C. Inflorescence. D. Glumes. E. Spikelets. A, C modified from Ibrahim and Kabuye (1988); B, D, E drawn from A. J. Oakes 364450

(US-3025905).
NUMBER 103 • 6 3

lower nodes rooting; butt sheaths glabrous. Leaves basal and 

cauline; sheaths strongly compressed, keeled, glabrous, margins 

smooth; oral hairs present; ligules 1–2 mm long, ciliate membranes; blades 15–25 cm long, 2–9 mm wide, linear, flat, ascending, hairy on the basal 1⁄3, margins smooth, apex attenuate. 

Inflorescences 4–15 cm long, with (5–)7–20 digitately arranged 

racemes, the racemes spreading or ascending, the spikelets 

packed broadside to rachis. Spikelets 2.5–4 mm long, 3–4-flowered, cuneate, laterally compressed; fertile lemmas 2.9–3.2 mm 

long, awns 1.5–5.5 mm long, straight, bristly. Habitat: woodlands, weed of cultivation, and waste places. Distribution: (Mm, 

Nv, Nn, Ol) tropical and S Africa.

65. Chloris prieurii Kunth

FIGURE 74

Chloris prieurii Kunth, Révis. Gramin. 2: 441, t. 134. 1831. [Enteropogon prieurii (Kunth) Clayton.]

Caespitose annuals. Culms 15–85 cm tall, erect, geniculate; internodes glabrous; nodes dark; butt sheaths withering, 

glabrous. Leaves basal and cauline; sheaths much longer than 

blades, glabrous, ribbed, margins smooth; ligules 1–2 mm long, 

ciliate or a ciliolate membrane; blades 8–25 cm long, 1–3 mm 

wide, linear, conduplicate, ascending or spreading, glabrous, 

margins scabrous, bases narrow, apex acuminate. Inflorescence 

with 4–9 digitately borne racemes; racemes 4–12 cm long, unilateral; rachis angular. Spikelets 3–5 mm long, 4–6-flowered, elliptic, dorsally compressed; fertile lemmas 3–5 mm long, awns 

7–17 mm long, straight, bristly. Habitat: sandy soils. Distribution: (Da, Ra, Sa) tropical Africa and Arabia.

66. Chloris pycnothrix Trin.

FIGURE 75

Chloris pycnothrix Trin., Gram. Unifl. Sesquifl. 234. 1824.

Caespitose annuals. Culms 20–50 cm tall, erect, geniculate; 

internodes glabrous, straw colored; nodes dark; often lower 

FIGURE 74. Chloris prieurii. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and blade. 

C. Spikelets. A drawn from G. Täckholm s.n. (CAI); B, C drawn 

from S. Lægaard & S. Traore 17061 (US-3595001).

FIGURE 75. Chloris pycnothrix. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and 

blade. C. Inflorescence. D. Spikelets. A, C modified from Ibrahim 

and Kabuye (1988); B, D drawn from Ndegwa 592 (US-2589232).
6 4 • SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO BOTANY

nodes rooting; butt sheaths glabrous. Leaves basal and cauline; 

sheaths keeled, open, glabrous, margins smooth; oral hairs present; ligules 1–2 mm long, ciliate membranes; blades 2–10 cm 

long, 2–3 mm wide, linear, flat, flaccid, margins hairy, hairy on 

the basal 1⁄3, apex obtuse. Inflorescences 4–10 cm long with 

4–6 digitate racemes spreading or ascending. Spikelets 2–2.5 mm 

long, 2-flowered, cuneate, laterally compressed; fertile lemmas 

2.3–2.6 mm long, mucronate, the mucro 0.6 mm long. Habitat: 

grassland, weed of cultivation, and waste places. Distribution: 

(Nv) tropical Africa, Arabia, and S America.

67. Chloris virgata Sw.

FIGURE 76

Chloris virgata Sw., Fl. Ind. Occid. 1: 203. 1797. 

Common name: feather finger grass.

Caespitose annuals. Culms up to 100 cm tall, erect, geniculate; internodes glabrous, straw colored; nodes dark, occasionally lower nodes rooting; butt sheaths glabrous. Leaves basal 

and cauline; sheaths longer than blades, strongly compressed, 

keeled, glabrous, margins hairy at junction between blade and 

sheath; oral hairs present; ligules 1–2 mm long, ciliate membranes; blades 10–25 cm long, 2–6 mm wide, linear, flat, ascending, glabrous, margins smooth, apex attenuate. Inflorescences 

2–10 cm long with 4–12 digitate, spreading racemes. Spikelets 

2.5–4.5 mm long, 3-flowered, cuneate, laterally compressed; fertile lemmas 2–3.6 mm long with a crown of hairs at the apex, 

the hairs 1.5–4 mm long, awns 5–12 mm long, straight. Habitat: 

grasslands, weed of cultivation, and waste places. Distribution: 

(Ms, Nv, Nn, Ge) throughout the tropics.

68. Chrysopogon plumulosus Hochst.

FIGURE 77

Chrysopogon plumulosus Hochst., Jahreshefte 3: 62. 1847.

FIGURE 76. Chloris virgata. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and blade. 

C. Spikelet. A drawn from V. Täckholm, L. Boulos, M. Zahran 204, 

236 (CAI); B, C drawn from B. Wennell (US-1446109).

FIGURE 77. Chrysopogon plumulosus. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, 

and blade. C. Spikelet. A–C drawn from A. Linsen & W. Giesen 34

(US-2909758).
NUMBER 103 • 6 5

Caespitose perennials; roots aromatic. Culms up to 300 cm 

tall, erect, wiry, glabrous; butt sheaths glabrous. Leaves basal 

and cauline, sometimes forming a compact cushion; sheaths glabrous, basal sheaths sometimes laterally compressed, margins 

smooth; ligules 1 mm long, a fringe of hairs; blades 10–30 cm 

long, 2–8 mm wide, linear, flat, ascending, glaucous, glabrous, 

or pubescent, margins scabrous, apex abruptly acute. Panicles 

3–7 cm long, open, ovate, with whorls of branches bearing terminal racemes each with three spikelets. Sessile spikelets 5.5–8 mm 

long, oblong, laterally compressed; upper glumes with a bristly 

awn; upper lemma awns 20–30 mm long, geniculate, twisted. 

Habitat: rocky sites. Distribution: (Ge) NE Africa and Arabia.

69. Chrysopogon zizanioides* (L.) Roberty

FIGURE 78

Chrysopogon zizanioides* (L.) Roberty, Bull. Inst. Franç. Afrique Noire, sér. A, 22: 106. 1960. 

Common name: vetiver grass.

Caespitose perennials; roots aromatic; rhizomes short. 

Culms up to 300 cm tall, erect, geniculate; internodes glabrous; 

butt sheaths glabrous. Leaves basal and cauline; sheaths glabrous, margins smooth; ligules 1–2 mm long, a fringe of hairs; 

blades 30–100 cm long, 5–10 mm wide, linear, flat, ascending, 

scabrous, margins scabrous, apex acuminate. Panicles 15–40 cm 

long, open, lanceolate, with whorls of branches bearing a terminal raceme, each with two spikelets. Sessile spikelets 3.5–5 mm 

long, linear, laterally compressed; lemmas awnless. Habitat: cultivated. Distribution: (Nv) introduced, native to India.

70. Coelachyrum brevifolium Hochst. & Nees

FIGURE 79

Coelachyrum brevifolium Hochst. & Nees, Linnaea 16: 221. 

1842. 

Common name: manteeb.

FIGURE 78. Chrysopogon zizanioides. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, 

and blade. C. Inflorescence. D. Inflorescence branch. A–D drawn 

from G. Davidse & D. B. Smithraarachchi 9049 (US-2884821).

FIGURE 79. Coelachyrum brevifolium. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, 

and blade. C. Spikelet. A drawn from V. Täckholm, M. Kassas, H. 

Fawzy, F. Salaby, M. Zahran 1402 (CAI); B drawn from F. N. Andrews 26 (US-3048192); C modified from Cope (2005).
6 6 • SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO BOTANY

Caespitose annuals; stolons present. Culms 10–50 cm tall, geniculate; internodes glabrous, striate, straw colored; nodes dark; 

butt sheaths glabrous. Leaves basal and cauline; sheaths longer 

than blades, glabrous, margins membranous; ligules 1–2 mm long, 

membranous, apex dentate; blades 2–5 cm long, 1.5–4 mm wide, 

glabrous, margins smooth. Inflorescences 1–5 cm long with 3–5 

digitate racemes. Spikelets 3.5–4 mm long, ovate, laterally compressed, subsessile; lemmas 1.6–2.2 mm long, membranous, pilose, awnless. Habitat: sandy soils. Distribution: (Ge) N Africa 

and Arabia.

71. Coix lacryma-jobi* L.

FIGURE 80

Coix lacryma-jobi* L., Sp. Pl. 2: 972. 1753. 

Common names: dimo’ ayoub; Job’s tears.

Caespitose annuals; plants monoecious. Culms up to 200 cm 

tall, erect, geniculate; internodes glabrous; butt sheaths glabrous. 

Leaves mostly cauline; sheaths strongly compressed, keeled, glabrous, margins smooth; ligules 1–2 mm long, membranous, apex 

truncate; blades 10–50 cm long, 2–5 cm wide, linear-lanceolate, 

flat, spreading, flaccid, glabrous, margins cartilaginous, bases 

cordate, apex acute. Inflorescences axillary, compound; male and 

female racemes subtended by the same spatheole; female racemes 

sessile, subtended by a bony utricle comprising 1 spikelet, male 

racemes pedunculate, projecting from the mouth of the utricle 

comprising 3 or 2 spikelets. Fertile utricles 0.5–1.5 cm long, globose; male racemes 3–5 cm long, the spikelets 7–9 mm long, 

dorsally compressed; lemmas awnless. Habitat: cultivated or escaped. Distribution: (Nn, Nv) tropical Asia.

72. Cortaderia selloana* (Schult. & Schult.f.) 

Asch. & Graebn.

FIGURE 81

Cortaderia selloana* (Schult. & Schult.f.) Asch. & Graebn., Syn. 

Mitteleur. Fl. 2: 325. 1900.

Common name: pampas grass.

FIGURE 80. Coix lacryma-jobi. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and 

blade. C. Inflorescence. D. Spikelet. A, C, D drawn from M. Hassib 

s.n. (CAI), Ibrahim and Kabuye (1988); B drawn from W. R. Luke 

3305 (US-3262016).

FIGURE 81. Cortaderia selloana. A. Culm. B. Ligule, sheath, and 

blade. C. Inflorescence. D. Spikelet. A drawn from Loco Ignoto s.n.

(CAI); B–D drawn from R. Wasum 458 (US-3405065).
NUMBER 103 • 6 7

Caespitose perennials; plants gynodioecious. Culms up to 

300 cm tall; stout, erect; internodes rough; butt sheaths glabrous. 

Leaves basal and cauline; sheaths scabrous, margins scabrous; 

ligules 1–2 mm long, a fringe of hairs; blades 50–150 cm long, 

2–15 mm wide, linear, involute, straight, coriaceous, scabrous, 

margins serrate, apex acuminate. Panicles 25–100 cm long, 

open, ovate, densely flowered. Spikelets 12–18 mm long, lanceolate, laterally compressed; lemmas awnless. Habitat: cultivated. 

Distribution: (Nv) introduced from S America.

73. Corynephorus divaricatus (Pourr.) Breistr.

FIGURE 82

Corynephorus divaricatus (Pourr.) Breistr., Proc. Verb. Soc. 

Dauph. Etud. Biol. Grenoble, Ser. 3, 17: 3. 1950.

Caespitose annuals. Culms 5–40 cm tall, erect; internodes 

glabrous; nodes dark; butt sheaths glabrous. Leaves basal and 

cauline; sheaths strongly compressed, keeled, striate, glabrous, 

margins smooth; ligules 6–10 mm long, membranous, apex 

acute; blades 5–40 cm long, 1–3 mm wide, linear; filiform, wiry, 

ascending, scabrous, margins scabrous, bases cordate, apex acuminate. Panicles 2–10 cm long, 0.5–7 cm wide, open, ovate; 

spikelets clustered toward branch tip. Spikelets 4–4.5 mm long, 

oblong, laterally compressed; lemmas 1.5–2 mm long, awns 

2.5 mm long, column twisted. Habitat: coastal sandy areas. Distribution: (Mm, Ms) Mediterranean region to the Caspian.

74. Crithopsis delileana (Schult.) Roshev.

FIGURE 83

Crithopsis delileana (Schult.) Roshev., Zlaki SSSR 319. 1937.

FIGURE 82. Corynephorus divaricatus. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, 

and blade. C. Spikelet. A drawn from Pitard s.n. (CAI); B, C drawn 

from J. Bornmuller 1626 (US-1109517).

FIGURE 83. Crithopsis delileana. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and 

blade. C. Spikelet. A drawn from G. Schweinfurth s.n. (CAI); B, C 

drawn from J. Bornmuller 1723 (US-1127578).
6 8 • SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO BOTANY

Solitary annuals. Culms 10–30 cm tall, erect, geniculately 

ascending; internodes glabrous; butt sheaths glabrous. Leaves 

basal and cauline; sheaths strongly compressed, glabrous, margins smooth; oral hairs ciliate; auricles clawlike; ligules 1–2 mm 

long, membranous, apex entire; blades 2–10 cm long, 1–3 mm 

wide, linear, flat or involute, spreading, hairy on the basal 1⁄3, 

margins scabrous, base amplexicaul, apex acuminate. Spikes 

2–3.5 cm long, single, oblong, bilateral; spikelets in pairs. Spikelets 12 mm long, lanceolate, dorsally compressed, falling entire; 

lemmas about 7 mm long, awns 5–7 mm long, straight. Habitat: damp sites and a weed of cultivation. Distribution: (Mm) 

E Mediterranean to Iran.

75. Cutandia dichotoma (Forssk.) Batt. & Trab.

FIGURE 84

Cutandia dichotoma (Forssk.) Batt. & Trab., Fl. Algérie Monocot. 237. 1895. 

Common name: khafoor.

Mat-forming annuals. Culms 10–35 cm tall, erect, geniculate; butt sheaths glabrous. Leaves basal and cauline; sheaths longer than blades, strongly compressed, keeled, glabrous, ribbed, 

margins smooth; ligules 1–2 mm long, membranous, apex lacerate; blades 2–10 cm long, (0.5–)1–2 mm wide, linear, flat or 

conduplicate, ascending, glabrous, margins scabrous, apex acuminate. Panicles 2–8 cm long, open, lanceolate, dichotomously 

branched. Spikelets 6–11.5 mm long, 2–4-flowered, linear, laterally compressed; lemmas 4–5.5 mm long, awnless. Habitat: sandy 

soil. Distribution: (Mm, Ms, Nv, Di) N Africa and SW Asia.

76. Cutandia maritima (L.) Barbey

FIGURE 85

Cutandia maritima (L.) Barbey, Fl. Sard. Comp. 72. 1885. 

Common name: khafoor.

FIGURE 85. Cutandia maritima. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and 

blade. C. Spikelet. A drawn from Rhumer 381 (CAI); B drawn from

F. Lamson Scribner s.n. (US-748520); C modified from Cope (2005).

FIGURE 84. Cutandia dichotoma. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and 

blade. C. Spikelet. A drawn from G. Täckholm s.n. (CAI); B, C 

drawn from C. H. Davis 6561D (K-H-2012/000899-7).
NUMBER 103 • 6 9

Solitary annuals. Culms 10–35 cm tall, erect, geniculate; internodes and nodes glabrous; butt sheaths glabrous. Leaves basal 

and cauline; sheaths longer than blades, strongly compressed, 

keeled, glabrous, margins membranous; ligules 2–4 mm long, 

membranous, apex truncate, lacerate, acute; blades 2–10 cm 

long, 1–2 mm wide, deciduous at the ligules, linear, flat or filiform, ascending, glabrous, margins smooth, apex acuminate. 

Panicles 1.5–16 cm long, dichotomously branched, open, elliptic, secund, partly enclosed in the uppermost sheath. Spikelets 

8–16(–22) mm long, 5–12-flowered, ovate, laterally compressed; 

lemmas 5.5–9.5 mm long, awnless. Habitat: coastal sand and 

waste places. Distribution: (Mm, Di) Mediterranean.

77. Cutandia memphitica (Spreng.) K. Richt.

FIGURE 86

Cutandia memphitica (Spreng.) K. Richt., Pl. Eur. 1: 77. 1890.

Common names: sammah; Memphis grass.

Caespitose annuals. Culms 10–30 cm tall, erect, geniculate; internodes glabrous; nodes dark; butt sheaths glabrous. 

Leaves basal and cauline; sheaths longer than blades, strongly 

compressed or keeled, glabrous, margins membranous; ligules 

2–3 mm long, membranous, apex lacerate, truncate; blades 

2–8 cm long, 1–2 mm wide, deciduous at the ligules, linear, convolute or conduplicate, ascending, smooth or scaberulous, bases 

narrow, apex acute. Panicles 3–18 cm long, open, elliptic, dichotomously branched, enclosed in the uppermost sheath. Spikelets 4.5–5 mm long, 2–4-flowered, in pairs, laterally compressed; 

lemmas 7–8.5 mm long, awns 10–11 mm long, column twisted. 

Habitat: sandy or saline soils, cultivated. Distribution: (Mm, Ms, 

Nv, Dl, Di, Ol, On, S, Ge) Mediterranean to SW Asia.

78. Cymbopogon citratus* (DC.) Stapf

FIGURE 87

Cymbopogon citratus* (DC.) Stapf, Bull. Misc. Inform. Kew 

1906: 322, 357. 1906.

Common names: hashishet el lamoun; lemon grass.

FIGURE 86. Cutandia memphitica. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, 

and blade. C. Inflorescence. D. Spikelet. A drawn from Shamso 

s.n. (CAI); B–D drawn from F. A. Barkley & H. Abbas 1098

(US-2381386), A. Rawi s.n. (US-2970919).

FIGURE 87. Cymbopogon citratus. A. Culm. B. Ligule, sheath, and 

blade. C. Inflorescence. D. Spikelets. A drawn from M. Hassib s.n.

(CAI); B, C drawn from E. C. Leonard & G. M. Leonard 12360a

(US-1454222); D modified from Barkworth (2003a).
7 0 • SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO BOTANY

Caespitose perennials, aromatic; rhizomes short. Culms 

100–200 cm tall; internodes glabrous; nodes bearded; butt 

sheaths glabrous. Leaves basal and cauline; sheaths glabrous, 

margins smooth; ligules 1–3 mm long, membranous, apex erose; 

collars dark; blades 2–10 mm long, 1–2 mm wide, aromatic, linear, spreading, glabrous, margins scabrous, bases attenuate and 

broad to chordate, apex attenuate to spiny pungent. Panicles 

30–60 cm long, composed of racemes, subtended by a spatheole, 

enclosed partially in the sheath. Spikelets 5–6 mm long, 0.7 mm 

wide, paired, lanceolate, laterally compressed; principal lemma 

awns 10–11 mm long, geniculate, twisted. Habitat: cultivated. 

Distribution: (Nn, Nv) tropics.

79. Cymbopogon flexuosus* (Nees ex Steud.) 

Will. Watson

FIGURE 88

Cymbopogon flexuosus* (Nees ex Steud.) Will. Watson, Himalayan Districts N.W. Prov. India 1: 392. 1882. 

Common name: East Indian lemon grass.

Caespitose perennials, aromatic; rhizomes short. Culms 

up to 300 cm tall, erect, straight; internodes glabrous; nodes 

bearded; butt sheaths curly, glabrous. Leaves basal and cauline; sheath surfaces glabrous, margins entire; oral hairs present; ligules 3–6 mm long, membranous; scarious, apex obtuse; 

blades 20–100 cm long, 5–15 mm, wide, aromatic, linear, flat, 

curly, spreading, hairy on the basal 1⁄3, margins scabrous, bases 

broad or cordate, apex attenuate. Panicles 30–60 cm long, erect, 

terminal, lax, terminal and axillary, subtended by a spatheole; 

spatheole 1–2 cm long, elliptic, partially included in sheaths. 

Spikelets 4.5–5 mm long, in pairs, dorsally compressed; principal lemma awns 10–11 mm long, column twisted. Habitat: cultivated. Distribution: (Nn, Nv) India.

80. Cymbopogon iwarancusa* (Jones) Schult.

FIGURE 89

Cymbopogon iwarancusa* (Jones) Schult., Mant. 2: 458. 1824. 

[Cymbopogon jwarancusa Schult.] 

Common name: jwarancusa grass.

FIGURE 89. Cymbopogon iwarancusa. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, 

and blade. C. Inflorescence. D. Spikelets. A, C, D drawn from J. F. 

Duthie (US-925672); B drawn from J. F. Duthie 12922 (US-925673).

FIGURE 88. Cymbopogon flexuosus. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, 

and blade. C. Inflorescence. A–C drawn from E. M. Jarrett, C. Saldanda & T. P. Ramamoorthy HFP609 (US-2792143).
NUMBER 103 • 7 1

Caespitose perennials, aromatic; occasionally with short rhizomes. Culms 30–100 cm tall, erect, straight; internodes glabrous; 

butt sheaths curly, glabrous. Leaves basal and cauline; sheaths glabrous, margins membranous; ligules 1–3 mm long, ciliolate membranes; blades 10–30 cm long, 2–5 mm wide, aromatic, flat, linear 

or filiform, spreading, glabrous, margins scabrous, bases broad 

cordate, apex attenuate to spiny pungent. Panicles 15–40 cm long, 

erect, terminal and axillary, linear, dense, composed of racemes, 

subtended by spatheoles; spatheoles 1.5–2.5 cm long, lanceolate 

or elliptic; red, partially included in sheaths. Spikelets 4.5–5.5 mm 

long, in pairs, lanceolate, dorsally compressed; principal lemma 

awns 7–10 mm long, geniculate, column twisted. Habitat: cultivated. Distribution: (Nn, Nv) India and Pakistan.

81. Cymbopogon martini* (Roxb.) Will. Watson

FIGURE 90

Cymbopogon martini* (Roxb.) Will. Watson, Himalayan Districts N.W. Prov. India 10: 392. 1882. 

Common names: palmarosa, rosha grass.

Caespitose perennials, aromatic. Culms up to 250 cm tall, 

erect; internodes straight, glabrous, butt sheaths glabrous. Leaves 

basal and cauline; sheaths glabrous, margins smooth; oral hairs 

present; ligules 1–3 mm long, membranous, apex lacerate; collars dark colored; blades 20–40 cm long, 10–30 cm wide, linear, 

flat, spreading, glabrous, margins scabrous, bases broad cordate 

or amplexicaul, apex attenuate. Panicles 15–30 cm long, erect, 

terminal, linear, dense, subtended by spatheoles, enclosed in the 

sheaths; spatheoles 2–4 cm long, red; racemes 1.5–2 cm long, 

usually with 2 deflexed. Spikelets 4–4.5 mm long, in pairs, oblong, dorsally compressed; principal lemma awns 12–18 mm 

long, geniculate, column twisted. Habitat: cultivated. Distribution: (Nn, Nv, O) India and Pakistan.

82. Cymbopogon nardus (L.) Rendle

FIGURE 91

Cymbopogon nardus (L.) Rendle, Cat. Afr. Pl. 2(1): 155. 1899. 

Common names: sumbul hindi; citronella grass.

Caespitose perennials, aromatic. Culms up to 300 cm tall, 

erect; internodes glabrous; butt sheaths glabrous, persistent. 

Leaves basal and cauline; sheaths glabrous, margins smooth; 

ligules 3–9 mm long, membranous, apex lacerate; blades 10–50 

cm long, 3–10 mm wide, flat, linear or filiform, aromatic, 

spreading, glabrous or scaberulous, margins scabrous, bases 

narrow, apex attenuate to spiny pungent. Panicles 15–60 cm 

long, compound, dense, subtended by spatheoles, enclosed in 

the sheath, racemes 15–60 cm long, erect. Spikelets 1–2.5 cm 

long, elliptic, in pairs, dorsally compressed; principal lemma 

awns 10–15 mm long, geniculate, column twisted. Habitat: cultivated, bushland and grasslands. Distribution: (Nn, Nv) Africa 

and India.

83. Cymbopogon schoenanthus (L.) Spreng.

FIGURE 92

Cymbopogon schoenanthus (L.) Spreng., Pl. Min. Cogn. Pug. 2: 

15. 1815. 

Common names: halfa-bar, hashma, wumbul hindi.

Caespitose perennials; aromatic. Culms 30–80 cm tall, erect; 

internodes glabrous, glossy; nodes dark, bearded; butt sheaths 

glabrous, persistent. Leaves basal and cauline; sheaths glabrous, 

margins smooth; ligules 1–3 mm long, membranous, apex erose; 

blades 10–35 cm long, 1–4 mm wide, filiform, spreading, involute, scaberulous, margins scabrous, bases narrow, apex attenuate to spiny, pungent. Panicles 5–40 cm long, dense, composed 

of racemes 1–3 cm long, terminal and axillary, subtended by 

FIGURE 90. Cymbopogon martini. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and 

blade C. Inflorescence. D. Segment of inflorescence. E. Spikelet. A–E 

drawn from G. Stati & C. C. Wisner 4 (US-1256939).
7 2 • SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO BOTANY

a spatheole, enclosed in the sheath, paired, deflexed. Spikelets 

4–7 mm long, in pairs, lanceolate, dorsally compressed; principal 

lemma awns 5–9 mm long, straight. Habitat: rocky slopes. Distribution: (Di, Ge) Sahara to Arabia.

KEY TO THE SUBSPECIES

1a. Racemes 2–3 cm long; spatheoles 2.3–3 cm long; lower glumes of sessile spikelets glabrous

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

1b. Racemes 1–2 cm long; spatheoles 1.3–2 cm long; lower glumes of sessile spikelets pubescent on the back 

. . . . . . . . . . . . . .  C. schoenanthus subsp. proximus (Hochst ex A. Rich.) Maire & Weiller,

FIGURE 92. Cymbopogon schoenanthus. A. Habit. B. Ligule, 

sheath, and blade. C. Spikelets. A, C drawn from G. Täckholm s.n.

(CAI); B, C drawn from Y. Hu 8328 (US-2722032).

FIGURE 91. Cymbopogon nardus. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and 

blade C. Inflorescence. D. Segment of inflorescence. E. Spikelet. A, C 

modified from Ibrahim and Kabuye (1988); B, D, E drawn from G. 

Davidse 7701 (US-2885070), R. D. Hoogland 11522 (US-261068).
NUMBER 103 • 7 3

84. Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers.

FIGURE 93

Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers., Syn. Pl. 1: 85. 1805. 

Common names: erq el negiel, moddied, negil baladi; Bermuda 

grass.

Mat-forming perennials; stolons present; rhizomes elongated. Culms 10–40 cm tall, erect; internodes glabrous, glossy; 

lower nodes rooting; butt sheaths glabrous, persistent. Leaves 

basal and cauline; sheaths longer than adjacent internodes, glabrous, ribbed, margins smooth; ligules 0.3 mm long, a ciliate 

membrane; oral hairs present; blades 3–15 cm long, 2–4 mm 

wide, linear or loosely convolute, spreading, scaberulous, glabrous or pilose, margins sparsely hairy and scabrous, apex acuminate. Racemes 1.5–6(–8) cm long, 4–6 digitately arranged 

branches, erect, unilateral. Spikelets 2–2.6 mm long, lanceolate, 

laterally compressed; lemmas silky pubescent on the keel, awnless. Habitat: sandy and rocky sites, along rivers, disturbed sites. 

Distribution: (Mm, Ms, Nv, Nn, Dl, Di, Ol, On, S, Ra, Ge) tropical and warm temperate regions, cosmopolitan.

85. Cynodon transvaalensis Burtt Davy

FIGURE 94

Cynodon transvaalensis Burtt Davy, Bull. Misc. Inform. Kew 

1921: 281. 1921.

Mat-forming perennials; stolons present; rhizomes long. 

Culms 5–10 cm tall, weak, prostrate; internodes glabrous, 

glossy; nodes glabrous, lower nodes rooting; butt sheaths glabrous. Leaves basal and cauline; sheaths glabrous, ribbed, margins smooth; ligules 0.3 mm long, a ciliate membrane; oral hairs 

FIGURE 93. Cynodon dactylon. A. Stolon. B. Habit. C. Ligule, 

sheath, and blade. D. Spikelet. A, C drawn from R. Kanal 432 (US3279031); B modified from Ibrahim and Kabuye (1988); D modified 

from Hitchcock (1951).

FIGURE 94. Cynodon transvaalensis. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, 

and blade. C. Inflorescence. D. Spikelet. A modified from Ibrahim 

and Kabuye (1988); B, C, D drawn from J. D. Snowden 1311

(US-3048132).
7 4 • SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO BOTANY

present; blades 1–5 cm long, 0.5–2 mm wide, filiform or involute, 

glabrous or sparsely hairy, margins scabrous, bases narrow, apex 

acuminate. Racemes 0.7–1.5 cm long, 1–3(–4) digitate branches, 

unilateral. Spikelets 2.5 mm long, ovate, laterally compressed; 

lemma sparsely ciliate on the keel, awnless. Habitat: meadows, 

cultivated as a lawn grass. Distribution: (Mm, Ms, Nv, Nn, Dl, 

Di, Ol, On, S, Ra, Ge) tropical and S Africa.

86. Cynosurus coloratus Lehm. ex Nees

FIGURE 95

Cynosurus coloratus Lehm. ex Nees, Fl. Afr. Austral. Ill. 439. 

1841. 

Common name: dogstail grass.

Caespitose annuals. Culms 5–20 cm tall, erect, geniculate; 

internodes glabrous; butt sheaths glabrous. Leaves basal and 

cauline; sheaths glabrous, margins membranous; ligules 7–13 

mm long, membranous, apex acute; blades 2–5 cm long, 1–2 

mm wide, linear, flat, scaberulous, rough on both sides, margins 

scabrous, bases narrow, apex abruptly acute. Panicles 2–3 cm 

long, 1.5–3 cm wide, capitate, ovate, unilateral. Spikelets 6–7 

mm long, in pairs, oblong, laterally compressed; lemmas 3.4–4 

mm long, awns 15–20 mm long, straight, bristly. Habitat: calcareous sandy dunes. Distribution: (Mm) E Mediterranean region.

87. Cynosurus echinatus L.

FIGURE 96

Cynosurus echinatus L., Sp. Pl. 1: 72. 1753. 

Common name: bristly dogstail grass.

Caespitose annuals. Culms 10–80 cm tall, erect, geniculate; 

internodes glabrous; butt sheaths glabrous. Leaves basal and cauline; sheaths glabrous, margins membranous; ligules 5–10 mm 

long, membranous, apex lacerate, obtuse; blades 5–10 cm long, 

3–7 mm wide, linear, flat, spreading, surfaces and margins scabrous, bases narrow, apex acuminate. Panicles 1–8 cm long, 1–2 

cm wide, capitate, oblong or ovate, unilateral. Spikelets 8–14 mm 

FIGURE 95. Cynosurus coloratus. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and 

blade. C. Spikelets. A drawn from L. Boulos 4378; B, C drawn from

J. Bornmuller s.n. (US-1109916).

FIGURE 96. Cynosurus echinatus. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and 

blade. C. Segment of the inflorescence. A drawn from V. Täckholm 

s.n. (CAI); B, C drawn from A. C. Cook 458 (US-536631).
NUMBER 103 • 7 5

long, in pairs, cuneate, laterally compressed; lemmas 4–6.5 mm 

long, awns 6–16 mm long, straight, bristly. Habitat: calcareous 

sandy dunes. Distribution: (Mm) Mediterranean to C Asia.

88. Dactylis glomerata L.

FIGURE 97

Dactylis glomerata L., Sp. Pl. 1: 71. 1753. 

Common names: cock’s foot, orchard grass.

Caespitose coarse perennials. Culms 10–100 cm tall, erect, 

geniculate; internodes glabrous; butt sheaths sparsely hairy. 

Leaves basal and cauline; sheaths keeled, glabrous, margins 

smooth; ligules 6–10 mm long, decurrent, membranous, apex 

pointed and lacerate; blades 10–30 cm long, 2–10 mm wide, linear, flat or conduplicate, spreading, glabrous, margins scabrous, 

bases narrow, apex acuminate. Panicles 2–30 cm long, 1-sided, 

compressed, ellipsoid, contracted, ovate, interrupted, secund. 

Spikelets 5–9 mm long, oblong or cuneate, laterally compressed; 

lemmas 4–8 mm long, awns 0.5–1.5 mm long. Habitat: rocky 

slopes. Distribution: (Nv) Europe and temperate Asia.

89. Dactyloctenium aegyptium (L.) Willd.

FIGURE 98

Dactyloctenium aegyptium (L.) Willd., Enum. Pl. 2: 1029. 1809. 

Common names: na’eem el-saleeb, rigl er-hirbaya; crowfoot grass.

Mat-forming or caespitose annuals; stolons present. Culms 

10–50 cm tall, erect, geniculate; internodes glabrous; lower 

nodes rooting; butt sheaths glabrous. Leaves basal and cauline; sheaths open, glabrous, margins smooth; ligules 1–3 mm 

long, membranous; blades 3–20 cm long, 25–50 mm wide, 

linear; flat, ascending, scabrous, margins ciliate with bulbousbased hairs, apex acuminate. Inflorescences with 3–9 digitately 

FIGURE 97. Dactylis glomerata. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and 

blade. C. Inflorescence. D. Spikelet. A–C drawn from R. Kanal 546

(US-3208293); D modified from Hitchcock (1951).

FIGURE 98. Dactyloctenium aegyptium. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, 

and blade. C. Spikelet. A drawn from L. Boulos s.n. (CAI); B drawn 

from S. Laegaard 16166B (US-3292800); C modified from Hatch 

(2003).
7 6 • SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO BOTANY

arranged, unilateral racemes 1.2–6.5 cm long, spreading or ascending. Spikelets 3.5–4.5 mm long, laterally compressed; upper 

glumes 1.5–2.2 mm long with a terminal, flexuous awn, the awn 

0.8–4 mm long; lemmas 2.6–4 mm long, mucronate. Habitat: 

weed of cultivation, roadsides, and grasslands. Distribution: 

(Mm, Ms, Nv, Nn, Dl, Di, Dg, Ol, On, S) tropical and warm 

temperate Old World.

90. Dactyloctenium aristatum Link

FIGURE 99

Dactyloctenium aristatum Link, Hort. Berol. 1: 59. 1827.

Mat-forming annuals. Culms 5–30 cm tall, erect, geniculate; internodes glabrous; nodes dark, lower nodes rooting; butt 

sheaths glabrous. Leaves basal and cauline; sheaths open, glabrous, ribbed, margins membranous; oral hairs present, with bulbous bases; ligules 1–3 mm long, a ciliate membrane; blades 1–10 

cm long, 2.5–5.0 mm, hairy with bulbous-based hairs, linear, flat 

or conduplicate, ascending, margins tuberculate-ciliate, apex 

acuminate. Inflorescences with (2–)4–7(–11) digitately arranged, 

unilateral racemes 0.8–1.8 cm long. Spikelets 4.1–5.2 mm long, 

ovate, laterally compressed; upper glumes 1–2.3 mm long with 

a terminal, flexuous awn; lemmas 3–4.3 mm long, often mucronate. Habitat: coastal saline sand. Distribution: (Ge) E Africa, 

Arabia to NW India.

91. Dactyloctenium scindicum Boiss.

FIGURE 100

Dactyloctenium scindicum Boiss., Diagn. Pl. Orient., ser. 2, 4: 

131. 1859. 

Common name: okunish.

Mat-forming perennials; stolons present. Culms 10–40 cm 

tall, weak, erect, ribbed, geniculate; internodes glabrous; nodes 

dark, lower nodes rooting; butt sheaths pubescent, forming bulbous bases. Leaves basal and cauline; sheaths open, sparsely 

hairy, margins smooth; oral hairs present; ligules 1–3 mm long, 

ciliolate membranes; blades 1–10 cm long, 1–2 mm wide, linear, flat or conduplicate, glaucous, ascending, hairy, margins 

tuberculate-ciliate, apex attenuate. Inflorescences with 3–4(–5) 

digitately arranged, unilateral racemes 0.8–2 cm long. Spikelets 

4–8 mm long, lanceolate or ovate, laterally compressed; upper 

glumes 1–2.3 mm long with a terminal awn; lemmas 3–3.8 mm 

long, mucronate. Habitat: sandy soils. Distribution: (Dn, Ra, 

Ge) NE Africa through Arabia to NW India.

92. Danthoniopsis barbata (Nees) C. E. Hubb.

FIGURE 101

Danthoniopsis barbata (Nees) C. E. Hubb., Bull. Misc. Inform. 

Kew 1934: 435. 1934. 

Common name: tebbis.

Caespitose annuals; rhizomes elongated, knotty. Culms 

30–40 cm tall, erect, geniculate; internodes hirsute; nodes 

bearded; butt sheaths glabrous. Leaves basal, cauline, distichous; sheaths sparsely hairy, margins scabrous; oral hairs 

present; ligules a fringe of hairs; blades 3–20 cm long, 2.5–

10 mm wide, lanceolate, flat, ascending, glabrous or pilose, 

margins cartilaginous, scabrous, apex spiny pungent. Panicles 

4–18 cm long, open or contracted, oblong. Spikelets 9–11 mm 

long, in threes, lanceolate, laterally compressed; fertile lemmas 6–12 mm long, awns 16–18 mm long, geniculate, column 

twisted. Habitat: rocky slopes. Distribution: (Ge) NE Africa 

and Arabia.

FIGURE 99. Dactyloctenium aristatum. A. Habit. B. Ligule, 

sheath, and blade. C. Spikelet. A, C modified from Ibrahim and 

Kabuye (1988), V. Täckholm, M. Kassas, H. Fawzy, F. Shalaby, 

M. Zahran 1105 (CAI); B drawn from Lavranos & Carter 23128 

(US-3595101).
NUMBER 103 • 7 7

93. Desmazeria philistaea subsp. rohlfsiana 

(Coss.) H. Scholz

FIGURE 102

Desmazeria philistaea subsp. rohlfsiana (Coss.) H. Scholz, Willdenowia 6(2): 291. 1971.

Common name: halfa.

Caespitose annuals; occasionally with short rhizomes. 

Culms 10–25 cm tall, erect, purplish; internodes glabrous; nodes 

dark; butt sheaths glabrous. Leaves basal and cauline; sheaths 

glabrous, ribbed, margins membranous; ligules 1–3 mm long, 

membranous, apex erose, lacerate; blades 3–8 cm long, 1–3 mm 

wide, linear, flat, flaccid, spreading, ribbed, glabrous, margins 

smooth, apex abruptly acute. Panicles 1.5–8 cm long, open, 

oblong or ovate; branches 1 per node, usually with 3 spikelets. 

Spikelets 6–28 mm long, 3–5 mm wide, elliptic or oblong, laterally compressed; lemmas 3.5–4 mm long, awnless. Habitat: sand 

dunes and limestone-derived soils. Distribution: (Mm) N Africa 

to Palestine.

94. Desmostachya bipinnata (L.) Stapf

FIGURE 103

Desmostachya bipinnata (L.) Stapf, Fl. Cap. 7: 632. 1900. 

Common name: halfa.

Caespitose perennials; rhizomes elongated, scaly, flabellate. 

Culms up to 200 cm tall, solid, erect; internodes rough; basal 

FIGURE 100. Dactyloctenium scindicum. A. Habit. B. Ligule, 

sheath, and blade. C. Spikelet. A drawn from Kassas 741 (CAI); B 

drawn from Greenway & Kanari (US-3568512); C modified from

Ibrahim and Kabuye (1988).

FIGURE 101. Danthoniopsis barbata. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, 

and blade. C. Spikelets. A drawn from V. Täckholm, M. Kassas, 

H. Fawzy, F. Shalaby, M. Zahran 732 (CAI); B, C drawn from 

W. Schimper 788 (US-1127169).
7 8 • SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO BOTANY

innovations intravaginal; butt sheaths scarious or glabrous, pallid or dark brown. Leaves basal and cauline; sheaths open, glabrous, margins hairy; oral hairs present; ligules 1 mm long, a 

ciliolate membrane; blades 10–50 cm long, 3–6 mm wide, linear; 

flat or convolute, ascending, coriaceous, ribbed, hairy, margins 

scabrous, apex attenuate or spiny pungent. Inflorescences up 

to 60 cm long, erect, terminal, composed of numerous racemes 

borne along a central axis; racemes 15–40 cm long. Spikelets 

2.5–13 mm long, oblong, laterally compressed; lemmas 1.8–

2.7 mm long, awnless. Habitat: along streams, springs, weed of 

cultivation, and waste places. Distribution: (Ms, Nv, Nn, Dl, Dg, 

Dn, Di, Ol, On) Old World tropics.

95. Dichanthium annulatum (Forssk.) Stapf 

FIGURE 104

Dichanthium annulatum (Forssk.) Stapf, Fl. Trop. Afr. 9: 178. 1917. 

Common names: abu qoseiba, hmera, humeira, nigeil farsi, rokeeba, sayfoun; Delhi grass, marvel grass.

Caespitose perennials. Culms 20–100 cm tall, decumbent; 

internodes hirsute; nodes conspicuously bearded; butt sheaths glabrous. Leaves basal and cauline; sheaths open, glabrous, striate, 

margins hairy; oral hairs present; ligules 3–6 mm long, membranous, apex obtuse; blades 3–30 cm long, 2–6 mm wide, linear, 

FIGURE 103. Desmostachya bipinnata. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, 

and blade. C. Inflorescence. D. Spikelet. A drawn from Chria Mascu 

s.n. (CAI); B, C drawn from F. R. Fosberg 56909 (US-2832090); D 

modified from Cope (2005).

FIGURE 102. Desmazeria philistaea. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, 

and blade. C. Inflorescence. D. Spikelet. A–C drawn from A. Eig

(US-1723166), Inbrun s.n. (US-1723166); D drawn from T. Cope, 

G. Fahmy, I. E. Garf 238 (CAI).
NUMBER 103 • 7 9

flat; ascending to appressed, upper surfaces pilose, margins cartilaginous, bases cordate, apex acuminate. Inflorescence composed 

of (1–)2–15 subdigitately arranged racemes; racemes 3–7 cm long. 

Spikelets 2–6 mm long, in pairs, oblong, dorsally compressed; 

lower glume of sessile spikelet not pitted; principal lemma awns 

8–25 mm long, column twisted. Habitat: well-developed soils, 

weed of cultivation, and waste places. Distribution: (Mm, Nv, Nn, 

Dn, Di, Ol, On, S) tropical Africa and Indonesia.

96. Dichanthium foveolatum (Delile) Roberty

FIGURE 105

Dichanthium foveolatum (Delile) Roberty, Boissiera 9: 170. 1960. 

Caespitose perennials. Culms 10–50 cm tall, erect, geniculate, 

wiry; internodes glabrous, glossy; nodes bearded; butt sheaths scarious, pubescent. Leaves basal and cauline; sheaths longer than blades, 

glabrous, basal hairy and striate, margins membranous; auricles 

clawlike; ligules 1–3 mm long, a ciliate membrane; blades 3–20 cm 

long, 1–4 mm wide, linear, flat, flaccid, spreading, glabrous, margins smooth, bases narrow, apex acuminate. Inflorescence a single 

raceme, spatheolate; spatheoles 3.5–5 cm long; racemes 1.5–4.5 cm 

long, partially enclosed in the sheath. Spikelets 2.5–4 mm long, in 

pairs, elliptic, dorsally compressed; lower glume of sessile spikelet 

pitted; principal lemma awns 12–18 mm long, geniculate, column 

twisted. Habitat: sandy and stony deserts and sand dunes. Distribution: (Nv, Nn, Dg, Di, Ra, Ge) E Africa to India.

FIGURE 104. Dichanthium annulatum. A. Habit. B. Ligule, 

sheath, and blade. C. Inflorescence. D. Spikelets. A, C modified 

from Ibrahim and Kabuye (1988); B, D drawn from F. R. Fosberg 

56909 (US-2832090).

FIGURE 105. Dichanthium foveolatum. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, 

and blade. C. Inflorescence. D. Spikelets. A drawn from V. Täckholm 1606 (CAI); B–D drawn from W. Zeller 402 (US-3213846).
8 0 • SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO BOTANY

97. Digitaria ciliaris* (Retz.) Koeler

FIGURE 106

Digitaria ciliaris* (Retz.) Koeler, Descr. Gram. 27. 1802.

Common names: dafra; white-haired rosette grass.

Caespitose annuals. Culms 10–80 cm tall, decumbent; internodes glabrous, tough; nodes dark; butt sheaths glabrous. Leaves 

basal and cauline; sheaths pubescent, margins smooth; oral hairs 

present; ligules 1–3 mm long, membranous, apex obtuse, lacerate; 

blades 3–20 cm long, 3–8 mm wide, linear, flat, ascending, glabrous, 

margins wavy, smooth, apex acuminate. Inflorescence composed of 

2–12 digitately or subdigitately arranged unilateral racemes; racemes 6–22 cm long. Spikelets (2–)2.5–3.3(–3.7) mm long, in pairs, 

elliptic, dorsally compressed, apex acute; lemmas awnless. Habitat: 

waste places. Distribution: (Ms, Nv, Nn, Ol, Ra) tropics.

98. Digitaria nodosa Parl.

FIGURE 107

Digitaria nodosa Parl., Pl. Nov. 39. 1842.

Common name: dafra.

Solitary perennials. Culms 10–90 cm tall, weak, wiry, geniculate; internodes glabrous, ridged; nodes glabrous, often 

lower nodes rooting; butt sheaths pubescent, swollen at base. 

Leaves basal and cauline; sheaths hairy, margins hairy; oral hairs 

present; ligules1–3 mm long, membranous, apex lacerate; blades 

3–25 cm long, 2–4 mm wide, linear flat, ascending, sparsely 

hairy, margins scabrous, apex attenuate. Inflorescence composed 

of 4–12(–25) unilateral racemes, digitately inserted or borne 

along a central axis; racemes 3–15 cm long. Spikelets 2–3 mm 

long, in pairs, elliptic, dorsally compressed; lemmas awnless. 

FIGURE 106. Digitaria ciliaris. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and 

blade. C. Spikelets with lower (left) and upper (right) glumes. A 

drawn from S. Soliman s.n (CAI); B, C drawn from S. Lægaard & 

S. Traore s.n. (US-3595166).

FIGURE 107. Digitaria nodosa. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and 

blade. C. Inflorescence. D. Spikelets with lower (right) and upper 

(left) glumes. A, C modified from Ibrahim and Kabuye (1988); B, D 

drawn from T. R. Soderstorm 1509 (US-2899815).
NUMBER 103 • 8 1

Habitat: rocky places. Distribution: (Ge) N and NE Africa to 

Arabia and Pakistan.

99. Digitaria sanguinalis* (L.) Scop.

FIGURE 108

Digitaria sanguinalis* (L.) Scop., Fl. Carniol., ed. 2, 1: 52. 1772. 

Common names: abu qu’sseyba, abu rokeba; crabgrass, hairy 

crabgrass.

Caespitose annuals. Culms 10–50 cm tall, erect, geniculate; 

internodes glabrous, ridged; nodes bearded or glabrous, dark, 

lower nodes rooting; butt sheaths scarious, glabrous. Leaves basal 

and cauline; sheaths hairy, margins smooth; oral hairs present; 

ligules 2–3 mm long membranous, apex erose; blades 3–10 cm 

long, 2–7 mm wide, linear, flat, flaccid, spreading, sparsely hairy, 

margins smooth, apex acuminate. Inflorescence composed of 4–10 

digitately inserted, unilateral racemes; racemes 4–18 cm long, the 

rachis narrowly winged, angular. Spikelets 2.5–3.3 mm long, in 

pairs, appressed, elliptic, dorsally compressed, apex acute; lemmas 

awnless. Habitat: waste places, introduced. Distribution: (Mm, 

Ms, Nv, Nn, Di, Ol) warm temperate regions.

100. Digitaria velutina (Forssk.) P. Beauv.

FIGURE 109

Digitaria velutina (Forssk.) P. Beauv., Ess. Agrostogr. 51, 173. 

1812. 

Common name: eilaab.

Solitary annuals; stolons present. Culms 20–70 cm tall, 

erect, geniculate; internodes semiterete, glabrous, ridged; nodes 

dark, bearded; butt sheaths scarious, sparsely hairy. Leaves basal 

and cauline; sheaths pubescent, ribbed, margins membranous, 

FIGURE 109. Digitaria velutina. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and 

blade. C. Inflorescence. D. Spikelets with lower (left) and upper 

(right) glumes. A, C modified from Ibrahim and Kabuye (1988); B, 

D drawn from R. N. Hale 109 (US-2241866).

FIGURE 108. Digitaria sanguinalis. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, 

and blade. C. Inflorescence. D. Spikelets with lower (left) and upper 

(right) glume. A, C drawn from A. Chase 12706 (US-3110861); B 

drawn from G. Schweinfurth s.n. (US-823658); D modified from 

Hitchcock (1951).
8 2 • SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO BOTANY

hairy; oral hairs present; ligules 1–3 mm long, membranous, 

apex obtuse; blades 1.5–15 cm long, 3–15 mm wide, lanceolate, 

flat, flaccid, spreading, glabrous, margins smooth, bases cordate, 

apex acuminate. Inflorescence composed of (3–)7–20 unilateral 

racemes borne digitately or along a central axis; racemes 3–13 cm 

long. Spikelets 1.5–2.1 mm long, in pairs, elliptic, dorsally compressed, apex subacute; lemmas awnless. Habitat: sandy soils. 

Distribution: (Ge) NE and E southern Africa.

101. Digitaria violascens* Link

FIGURE 110

Digitaria violascens* Link, Hort. Berol. 1: 229. 1827. 

Mat-forming annuals. Culms 10–55 cm tall, erect, geniculate, glabrous; internodes glabrous, ridged; nodes dark, lower 

rooting; butt sheaths coriaceous, glabrous. Leaves basal and 

cauline; sheaths open, glabrous, ribbed; ligules 1–3 mm long, 

membranous, apex erose; blades 3–20 cm long, 2–6 mm wide, 

lanceolate, glaucous, flat, scabrous, margins scabrous, apex acuminate. Inflorescence composed of (2–)3–6(–9) digitately borne, 

unilateral racemes; racemes 3–14 cm long. Spikelets 1.2–2 mm 

long, in pairs, dorsally compressed; lemmas awnless. Habitat: introduced. Distribution: (Nn) tropical Asia and tropical America.

102. Dinebra panicea (Retz.) P. M. Peterson 

& N. Snow

FIGURE 111

Dinebra panicea (Retz.) P. M. Peterson & N. Snow, Ann. Bot. 

(Oxford), n.s., 109: 1326. 2012. [Leptochloa panicea

(Retz.) Ohwi; Poa panicea Retz.] 

Common name: mucronate sprangletop.

Caespitose annuals. Culms up to 100 cm tall, erect, geniculate; internodes glabrous; nodes rooting below; butt sheaths glabrous. Leaves basal and cauline; sheaths flattened, open, ribbed, 

FIGURE 110. Digitaria violascens. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and 

blade. C. Spikelets with lower (left) and upper (right) glumes. A 

drawn from Boulos s.n. (CAI); B drawn from A. Pappi s.n. (US1984285); C modified from Wipff (2003a).

FIGURE 111. Dinebra panicea. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and 

blade. C. Inflorescence. D. Spikelet. A drawn from A. Amer 6313

(CAI); B–D drawn from H. Faulkner 363 (US-1984377).
NUMBER 103 • 8 3

glabrous, margins smooth; collars hairy, dark colored; ligules 

1–1.5 mm long, membranous, apex lacerate; blades 3–20 cm 

long, 2–5 mm wide, linear, revolute, spreading, flaccid, pilose or 

sparsely hairy, the hairs tubercle based, margins smooth, apex attenuate. Inflorescences 20–30 cm long, rachis semiterete; racemes 

4–11 cm long, numerous, borne along a central axis. Spikelets 

1.9–2.5 mm long, elliptic, laterally compressed, packed broadside 

to rachis, 2-rowed; lemmas 0.8–1.2 mm long, awnless. Habitat: 

alluvial soils. Distribution: (Nv) tropical Africa and Asia.

103. Dinebra retroflexa (Vahl) Panz.

FIGURE 112

Dinebra retroflexa (Vahl) Panz., Ideen Revis. Gräs. 20. 1813; 

Denkschr. Königl. Akad. Wiss. München 4: 270. 1814.

Common names: deneib, negeil el-nimr.

Loosely caespitose annuals. Culms 15–100 cm tall, erect, 

geniculate; internodes glabrous; butt sheaths scarious; glabrous. 

Leaves basal and cauline; sheaths open, glandular, margins smooth; 

oral hairs present; ligules 1–1.5 mm long, membranous, apex lacerate; blades 3–30 cm long, 2–6 mm wide, linear, flat, ascending, 

sparsely hairy, margins smooth, apex acuminate. Racemes 0.6–5 cm 

long, numerous, borne along a central axis, deflexed, or spreading, linear, oblong or cuneate, unilateral. Spikelets 5.7–9 mm long, 

cuneate, laterally compressed; lemmas 1.8–2.4 mm long, awnless. 

Habitat: damp soils and a weed of cultivation. Distribution: (Mm, 

Ms, Nv, Ol, Ge) tropical Africa, Arabia to India.

104. Diplachne fusca (L.) P. Beauv. 

ex Roem. & Schult.

FIGURE 113

Diplachne fusca (L.) P. Beauv. ex Roem. & Schult., Syst. Veg. 2: 

615. 1817. [Leptochloa fusca (L.) Kunth; Festuca fusca L.] 

Common names: heesh, qasaba, sayfoun; bearded sprangletop, 

feather grass.

FIGURE 113. Diplachne fusca. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and 

blade. C. Inflorescence. D. Spikelet. A drawn from L. Boulos s.n.

(CAI); B–D drawn from L. Smook 6228 (US-3205640).

FIGURE 112. Dinebra retroflexa. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and 

blade. C. Portion of raceme. D. Spikelet. A drawn from El Hadidi 

s.n. (CAI); B–D drawn from A. Pappi s.n. (US-1984285).
8 4 • SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO BOTANY

Caespitose, aquatic or semiaquatic perennials. Culms up to 

150 cm tall, decumbent; internodes glabrous; lower nodes rooting and branching; butt sheaths glabrous. Leaves basal and cauline; sheaths open, ribbed, glabrous, margins smooth; auricles 

clawlike; ligules 3–6 mm long, membranous, apex acute; blades 

20–50 cm long, 2–5 mm wide, linear, convolute, spreading, stiff, 

midrib widened, scabrous, margins scabrous, apex attenuate. Inflorescences 20–35 cm long, rachis semiterete; racemes 15–35 cm 

long, 10–30 borne along a central axis, erect, straight. Spikelets 

8–15 mm long, elliptic, laterally compressed, packed broadside 

to rachis; lemmas 2.2–4 mm long, mucronate or with a short 

awn up to1.5 mm long. Habitat: moist habitats and rice fields. 

Distribution: (Mm, Ms, Nv, Nn, Di, Ol, Ra, Ge) tropical and 

subtropical Old World.

105. Echinochloa colona (L.) Link

FIGURE 114

Echinochloa colona (L.) Link, Hort. Berol. 2: 209. 1833. 

Common names: abu rokba, hasheesh anaareb, medaad, zafra; 

corn panic grass, jungle rice, millet rice.

Caespitose annuals. Culms 15–100 cm tall, decumbent; internodes glabrous; butt sheaths scarious, glabrous. Leaves basal 

and cauline; sheaths flattened, glabrous, margins smooth; ligules 

absent; blades 3–30 cm long, 2–6 mm wide, linear, flat, ascending, glaucous, scabrous, margins smooth, base broadly rounded, 

apex acuminate. Racemes 0.5–3 cm long, borne along a central 

axis, ascending (rarely) or appressed, simple. Spikelets 1.5–3 mm 

long, in pairs, ovate or orbicular, dorsally compressed, gibbous, 

apex acute or cuspidate; lemmas awnless. Habitat: aquatic and 

moist areas. Distribution: (Mm, Ms, Nv, Nn, Dl, Dg, Di, Ol, On, 

S, Ra, Ge) tropics and subtropics.

106. Echinochloa crus-galli* (L.) P. Beauv.

FIGURE 115

Echinochloa crus-galli* (L.) P. Beauv., Ess. Agrostogr. 53, 161. 

1812. 

Common names: denaab, dineiba sultani; large barnyard grass.

Caespitose annuals. Culms 15–100 cm tall, decumbent; 

internodes glabrous; butt sheaths scarious, glabrous. Leaves 

basal and cauline, sparsely hairy, margins smooth; collars dark 

colored; ligules absent; blades 5–30 cm long, 5–10 mm wide, 

linear, flat, spreading, flaccid, scabrous, margins smooth, apex 

acuminate. Racemes 2–10 cm long, 5–15 borne along a central 

axis, ascending. Spikelets 3–4 mm long, in pairs, elliptic, dorsally 

compressed, gibbous, apex acuminate; principal lemma awns 

0–50 mm long, erect, bristly. 

Habitat: aquatic and moist habitats, rice fields, probably 

introduced.

Distribution: (Mm, Ms, Nv, Ol) tropical Africa to India.

107. Echinochloa pyramidalis (Lam.) 

Hitchc. & Chase

FIGURE 116

Echinochloa pyramidalis (Lam.) Hitchc. & Chase, Contr. U.S. 

Natl. Herb. 18: 345. 1917. 

Solitary reedlike perennials; rhizomes elongated. Culms 

up to 400 cm tall, bamboo-like, erect, robust firm; internodes 

FIGURE 114. Echinochloa colona. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, 

and blade C. Spikelets with upper (right) and lower (left) glumes. A 

drawn from N. El-Hadidi s.n. (CAI); B drawn from W. Burger 2167 

(US-2465212); C modified from Michael (2003).
NUMBER 103 • 8 5

glabrous, striate; nodes glabrous, lower nodes rooting; butt 

sheaths scarious, glabrous. Leaves basal and cauline; sheaths glabrous, glaucous, ribbed, margins membranous; auricles clawlike; 

oral hairs present; ligules 1 mm long, a fringe of hairs; blades 

5–50 cm long, 2–20 mm wide, linear, flat, spreading, scabrous, 

margins cartilaginous, base broadly rounded, apex attenuate. 

Racemes 3–20 cm long, borne along a central axis, the racemes 

overlapping, ascending. Spikelets 2.5–3.5(–4) mm long, in pairs, 

elliptic or ovate, dorsally compressed, apex acute; lemmas usually unawned, sometimes mucronate or with awns 2–3 mm long. 

Habitat: swamps and along rivers, usually in water. Distribution: 

(Nn? or Nv?) tropical, S Africa and Arabia.

108. Echinochloa stagnina (Retz.) P. Beauv.

FIGURE 117

Echinochloa stagnina (Retz.) P. Beauv., Ess. Agrostogr. 53, 161, 

171. 1812. 

Common names: amosheet, moddeid.

Solitary perennials, sometimes behaving as annuals; rhizomes elongated. Culms up to 200 cm tall, spongy, decumbent; 

internodes glabrous; nodes dark, lower nodes rooting; butt 

sheaths scarious, glabrous. Leaves basal and cauline; sheaths 

glabrous, ribbed, margins smooth; auricles clawlike; oral hairs 

present; ligules a fringe of hairs; blades 10–40 cm long, 2–10 mm 

wide, linear, flat, spreading, flaccid, glaucous, scabrous, margins 

smooth, base broadly rounded, apex acuminate. Racemes 2–8 cm 

FIGURE 116. Echinochloa pyramidalis. A. Lower culm. B. Leaves. 

C. Ligule, sheath, and blade. D. Inflorescence. E. Spikelet. A, B, D 

modified from Ibrahim and Kabuye (1988); C drawn from K. Addei, 

592 (US-2209083); E modified from Michael (2003).

FIGURE 115. Echinochloa crus-galli. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, 

and blade. C. Inflorescence. D. Spikelets with lower (left) and upper 

(right) glumes. A–C drawn from R. Kanal 2406 (US-3268322); D 

modified from Michael (2003).
8 6 • SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO BOTANY

long, borne along a central axis, the racemes overlapping, flexuous. Spikelets 3.5–6 mm long, in pairs, elliptic, dorsally compressed, apex acuminate; principal lemma awns 3–20(–50) mm 

long. Habitat: weed of cultivation and canal banks. Distribution: 

(Mm, Ms, Nv, Ol) tropical Africa to India.

109. Ehrharta calycina* Sm.

FIGURE 118

Ehrharta calycina* Sm., Pl. Icon. Ined. t. 33. 1790. 

Common name: annual veldtgrass.

Caespitose perennials or rarely annuals; rhizomes elongated 

or absent. Culms 15–60 cm tall, erect, geniculate; internodes 

glabrous, striate; nodes dark; butt sheath scarious. Leaves basal 

and cauline; sheaths glabrous, margins membranous; ligules 

1–3 mm long, a ciliate membrane; blades 3–20 cm long, 1–3 mm 

wide, filiform, revolute, ascending, pubescent, margins ciliate, 

wavy, apex acuminate. Panicles 5–25 cm long, open or contracted, 

linear or oblong, equilateral, nodding. Spikelets 4–8 mm long, cuneate, laterally compressed; lower lemma awnless. Habitat: grasslands and disturbed sites, introduced. Distribution: (Mm) S Africa.

110. Eleusine africana Kenn.-O’Byrne

FIGURE 119

Eleusine africana Kenn.-O’Byrne, Kew Bull. 12: 65. 1957. 

FIGURE 117. Echinochloa stagnina. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, 

and blade. C. Spikelets with upper (left) and lower (right) glumes. 

A drawn from V. Täckholm s.n. (CAI); B, C drawn from A. Pappi

(US-1984300).

FIGURE 118. Ehrharta calycina. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and 

blade. C. Spikelet. A drawn from V. Täckholm s.n. (CAI); B, C 

drawn from J. R. Swallen 10534 (US-2432070), G. Davidse 33563

(US-3596089).
NUMBER 103 • 8 7

Caespitose annuals. Culms 20–90 cm tall, erect, straight, 

moderately robust; internodes glabrous; nodes dark, often lower 

nodes rooting; butt sheaths scarious, glabrous. Leaves mostly 

basal; sheaths keeled, open, glabrous, ribbed, margin membranous; oral hairs present; ligules 1–3 mm long, a ciliate membrane; 

blades 10–60 cm long, 5–10 mm wide, linear, flat or conduplicate, flaccid, pilose, margins ciliate, bases narrow, apex acuminate. Inflorescence with 3–15 digitately borne racemes; racemes 

4–17 cm long, 4–8 mm wide, unilateral. Spikelets 4–8 mm long, 

3–9-flowered, elliptic, laterally compressed; lemmas 3.7–5 mm 

long, awnless. Caryopsis oblong. Habitat: disturbed sites, roadsides, and a common weed of cultivation. Distribution: (Mm, 

Mp, Nv, Di, Ol, Ra) E and S Africa.

111. Eleusine coracana (L.) Gaertn.

FIGURE 120

Eleusine coracana (L.) Gaertn., Fruct. Sem. Pl. 1: 8, pl. 1, f. 11. 

1788.

Common names: African millet, finger millet.

Caespitose annuals. Culms up to 200 cm tall, erect, straight, 

robust; internodes glabrous, elliptical in cross section; nodes 

dark; butt sheaths scarious, glabrous. Leaves basal and cauline; 

sheaths keeled, open, glabrous, ribbed, margins sparsely hairy; 

oral hairs ciliate; ligules 1–2 mm long, a ciliolate membrane; 

blades 20–60 cm long, 5–10 mm wide, linear, flat or conduplicate, ascending, surfaces scabrous, hairy on basal 1⁄3, margins ciliate, bases narrow, apex acuminate. Inflorescence with 

FIGURE 120. Eleusine coracana. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and 

blade. C. Inflorescence. D. Spikelet. A, C modified from Ibrahim 

and Kabuye (1988); B, D drawn from A. V. Bogdan, AB6628 (US2599325).

FIGURE 119. Eleusine africana. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and 

blade. C. Spikelet. A drawn from A. Amer 6513 (CAI); B, C drawn 

from O. Olufsen 509 (US-1448089).
8 8 • SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO BOTANY

4–7 digitately borne racemes; racemes 3–8 cm long, 9–15 mm 

wide, unilateral. Spikelets 5–10 mm long, 3–9-flowered, ovate, 

laterally compressed; lemmas 2.2–4.7 mm long, awnless. Caryopsis globose. Habitat: cultivated. Distribution: (Mm, Nv) Old 

World tropics and subtropics.

112. Eleusine floccifolia (Forssk.) Spreng.

FIGURE 121

Eleusine floccifolia (Forssk.) Spreng., Syst. Veg. 1: 350. 1824.

Densely caespitose perennials; rhizomes short. Culms 

20–70 cm tall, erect, straight, subterete in cross section, robust; 

internodes elliptical in cross section, glabrous; nodes dark; butt 

sheaths scarious, glabrous. Leaves mostly basal; sheaths keeled, 

open, glabrous, margins membranous; oral hairs present; ligules 

0.5–1 mm long, membranous, apex truncate; blades 5–40 cm 

long, 2–5 mm wide, linear, flat or conduplicate, ascending, scabrous with tufts of short white hairs along margins, apex acute. 

Inflorescence with 2–10 digitately borne racemes; racemes 

2.5–12 cm long, spreading or ascending, unilateral. Spikelets 3.3–

6.8 mm long, 4–7-flowered, elliptic, laterally compressed; lemmas 

2.8–4.6 mm long, awnless. Caryopsis elliptic-oblong. Habitat: introduced. Distribution: (Nv) Ethiopia, Somalia, and Arabia.

113. Eleusine indica (L.) Gaertn.

FIGURE 122

Eleusine indica (L.) Gaertn., Fruct. Sem. Pl. 1: 8. 1788. 

Common names: negeil; fowlfoot grass, Indian goose grass, wire 

grass, yard grass.

Caespitose annuals. Culms 10–70 cm tall, erect, geniculate, 

subterete; internodes elliptical in cross section, minutely ciliolate; 

nodes dark; butt sheaths scarious, glabrous. Leaves mostly basal; 

sheaths keeled, open, sparsely hairy, margins sparsely hairy; oral 

hairs present; ligules 0.5–1 mm long, membranous, apex truncate; 

blades 5–30 cm long, 2–5 mm wide, linear, flat or conduplicate, 

ascending, sparsely hairy, margins smooth, bases narrow, apex 

acute. Inflorescence with 1–10(–17) digitately borne racemes; 

FIGURE 122. Eleusine indica. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and blade. 

C. Spikelet. A, B drawn from E. C. Leonard 19514 (US-1866464), 

R. Kanal 177 (US-3117706); C modified from Hilu (2003).

FIGURE 121. Eleusine floccifolia. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and 

blade. C. Inflorescence. D. Spikelet. A, C modified from Ibrahim and 

Kabuye (1988); B, D drawn from A. Pappi s.n. (CAI).
NUMBER 103 • 8 9

racemes 3.5–15.5 cm long; 3–3.5 mm wide, unilateral. Spikelets 

4.6–7.8 mm long, 3–9-flowered, elliptic, laterally compressed; 

lemmas 2.1–3.6 mm long, awnless. Caryopsis elliptic. Habitat: 

weed of cultivation and waste places. Distribution: (Mm, Ms, 

Nv, Di, Ol, On, S) pantropical.

114. Elionurus royleanus Nees ex A. Rich.

FIGURE 123

Elionurus royleanus Nees ex A. Rich., Tent. Fl. Abyss. 2: 471. 

1850.

Caespitose annuals. Culms 5–20 cm tall, erect, weak, semiterete in cross section, fastigiate branching; internodes glabrous; 

nodes bearded; butt sheaths withering, pubescent to hirsute. Leaves 

mostly cauline; sheaths much longer than blade, keeled, open, glabrous, margins smooth; oral hairs present; ligules 1–2 mm long, a 

ciliate membrane; blades 0.1–18 cm long, 1–2 mm wide, linear, flat 

or conduplicate, ascending, scabrous, hairy on basal 1⁄3, margins 

smooth, apex acuminate. Inflorescence a solitary raceme; racemes 

2–6 cm long, subtended by inflated leaf sheaths, embraced at base 

by subtending leaf; rachis fragile at the nodes, subterete, villous. 

Sessile spikelets 11–14 mm long, in pairs, lanceolate, dorsally compressed; lemmas awnless. Habitat: stony and sandy soils, rocky 

slopes. Distribution: (Ra, Ge) tropical Africa to NW India.

115. Elymus elongatus (Host) Runemark 

subsp. elongatus

FIGURE 124

Elymus elongatus (Host) Runemark, Hereditas (Lund) 70(2): 

156. 1972.

FIGURE 124. Elymus elongatus. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and 

blade. C. Inflorescence. D. Spikelet. A drawn from N. Shorbagy 

s.n.(CAI); B–D drawn from K. H. Rechinger 14011 (US-1936763).

FIGURE 123. Elionurus royleanus. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and 

blade. C. Spikelet. A drawn from V. Täckholm, M. Kassas, H. Fawzy, 

F. Shalaby, M. Zahran 1326; B drawn from Bogdan AB4339 (US2473058); C modified from Ibrahim and Kabuye (1988).
9 0 • SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO BOTANY

Caespitose perennials. Culms 35–70 cm tall, erect, robust; internodes glabrous, striate; butt sheaths withering, pubescent to hirsute. Leaves basal and cauline; sheaths glabrous, ribbed, margins 

smooth, glabrous; auricles clawlike; ligules 1–2 mm long, membranous, apex smooth; blades 20–45 cm long, 2–5 mm wide, linear, 

convolute, flaccid, spreading, ribbed, sparsely hairy or pubescent, 

margins ciliate, bases narrow, apex acuminate. Inflorescence a 

single, bilateral spike; spikes 10–25 cm long; rachis flattened, glabrous. Spikelets 12–25 mm long, elliptic to oblong, strongly laterally compressed; lemmas 9–11 mm long, awnless. Habitat: damp 

sandy soils. Distribution: (Mm, Ms) Mediterranean and SW Asia.

116. Elymus farctus (Viv.) Runemark ex 

Melderis

FIGURE 125

Elymus farctus (Viv.) Runemark ex Melderis, Bot. J. Linn. Soc. 

76(4): 382. 1978.

Caespitose perennials; rhizomes elongated. Culms 15–55 cm 

tall, erect, straight, glabrous, ridged; butt sheaths scarious, glabrous. Leaves mostly cauline; sheaths glabrous, ribbed margins 

smooth; collars dark colored; ligules 0.5–1 mm long, membranous, 

apex erose, truncate; blades 10–25 cm long, 2–5 mm wide linear, 

involute, straight, firm, ribbed, pubescent, margins smooth, bases 

narrow, apex acuminate. Inflorescence a single, bilateral spike; 

spikes 4–20 cm long, erect; rachis fragile at the nodes. Spikelets 

15–28 mm long, oblong or cuneate, laterally compressed; lemmas 10–18 mm long, awnless. Habitat: coastal sand. Distribution: 

(Mm, Ms) Europe, Mediterranean, and SW Asia.

117. Elymus repens* (L.) Gould

FIGURE 126

Elymus repens* (L.) Gould, Madroño 9(4): 127. 1947. 

Common names: couch grass, creeping wildrye, quack grass, 

witch grass.

FIGURE 126. Elymus repens. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and blade. 

C. Spikelet. A, B drawn from R. Kanal 029 (US-3073415) and 

C. Chase s.n. (US-906859); C modified from Barkworth et al. (2007).

FIGURE 125. Elymus farctus. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and blade. 

C. Inflorescence. D. Spikelet. A drawn from G. Maire s.n. (CAI); 

B–D drawn from K. H. Rechinger 4555 (US-1760877).
NUMBER 103 • 9 1

Caespitose perennials; rhizomes elongated. Culms 20–

100 cm tall, erect, geniculate; internodes glabrous; nodes dark, 

lower nodes rooting; butt sheaths scarious, glabrous. Leaves 

mostly cauline, glaucous; sheaths glabrous, ribbed, margins 

smooth; auricles clawlike; collars broad; ligules 0.3–1 mm long, 

membranous; apex truncate; blades 5–20 cm long, 3–6 mm wide, 

linear, flat ascending, glabrous or scaberulous, margins scabrous, 

apex acuminate, hardened. Inflorescence a single, bilateral spike; 

spikes 5–20 cm long, erect; rachis flattened, pubescent. Spikelets 10–20 mm long, 3–6 mm wide, elliptic to oblong, laterally 

compressed; lemmas 6–13 mm long, usually awnless. Habitat: 

roadsides and cultivated. Distribution: (Nn? or Nv?) Europe, 

Mediterranean, and temperate Asia.

118. Enneapogon desvauxii P. Beauv.

FIGURE 127

Enneapogon desvauxii P. Beauv., Ess. Agrostogr. 82, 161, t. 16, 

f. 11. 1812.

Caespitose perennials or sometimes annuals. Culms 5–20 cm 

tall, erect, geniculate, wiry; internodes hirsute; nodes bearded; 

butt sheaths persistent, sparsely hairy, forming a pseudobulbous 

base. Leaves basal and cauline; sheaths flattened, open, sparingly 

hairy, margins hairy; oral hairs present; ligule a fringe of hairs; 

blades 3–10 cm long, 1–2 mm wide, filiform, convolute, ascending, stiff, surfaces sparsely hairy or pilose, margins scabrous, 

bases narrow, apex attenuate. Panicles 2–8 cm long, spiciform, 

oblong or ovate. Spikelets 2.8–5.5 mm long, 3-flowered, oblong, 

laterally compressed; lemmas 3.4–6 mm long, densely villous, 

9-awned, awns 2.5–5 mm long, straight, ciliate below. Habitat: 

rocky slopes and sandy soils. Distribution: (S, Ra, Ge) Africa, 

India, China, and America.

119. Enneapogon lophotrichus 

Chiov. ex H. Scholz & P. König

FIGURE 128

Enneapogon lophotrichus Chiov. ex H. Scholz & P. König, Willdenowia 13(2): 369. 1983.

FIGURE 128. Enneapogon lophotrichus. A. Habit. B. Ligule, 

sheath, and blade. C. Spikelet. A drawn from V. Täckholm, M. Kassas, H. Fawzy, F. Shalabi, M. Zahran 813 (CAI); B, C drawn from

W. Burger 3536 (US-2473267) and 3529 (US-2473273).

FIGURE 127.Enneapogon desvauxii. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and 

blade. C. Spikelet. A drawn from V. Täckholm, M. Kassas, H. Fawzy, 

F. Shalabi, M. Zahran s.n. (CAI); B drawn from H. S. Gentry 14443 

(US-3564518); C modified from Ibrahim and Kabuye (1988).
9 2 • SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO BOTANY

Caespitose annuals. Culms 10–20 cm tall, erect, geniculate; internodes glabrous; butt sheaths persistent, pubescent. Leaves basal 

and cauline; sheaths longer than blades, flattened, open, hairy, 

ribbed, margins hairy; ligules a fringe of hairs; blades 3–10 cm 

long, 0.5–3 mm wide, narrow linear or filiform, convolute, ascending, stiff, pilose, margins scabrous, bases narrow, apex acuminate. 

Panicles 1–4 cm long, loosely contracted. Spikelets 5–7.5 mm long, 

6-flowered, oblong, laterally compressed; lemmas 1.5–5 mm long, 

lowest with 3 basal tufts of hairs, 9-awned; awns 3–4 mm long, 

straight, bristly, ciliate below. Habitat: stony soils among rocks and 

wadi beds. Distribution: (Ge) Ethiopia, Somalia, and Arabia.

120. Enneapogon persicus Boiss.

FIGURE 129

Enneapogon persicus Boiss., Diagn. Pl. Orient. 1(5): 71. 1844.

Caespitose perennials. Culms 10–60 cm tall, erect, geniculate; 

internodes glabrous; butt sheaths persistent, pubescent. Leaves 

basal and cauline; sheaths longer than blades, flattened, glabrous, 

ribbed, margins membranous; ligules a fringe of hairs; blades 3–15 

cm long, 2–3 mm wide, filiform, convolute, ascending, stiff, pilose 

with capitate hairs, margins scabrous, bases narrow; apex acuminate, spiny, pungent. Panicles 3–10 cm long, 1.5–2 cm wide, 

loosely contracted to spiciform, linear or lanceolate. Spikelets 5.5–

11.5 mm long, 4-flowered, oblong, laterally compressed; lemmas 

1.2–5 mm long, 9-awned, awns 4–7 mm long, straight, bristly, 

ciliate below. Habitat: stony slopes and rocky sites, grasslands. 

Distribution: (Nv, Nn, Ge) tropical Africa, S and SW Asia to India.

121. Enneapogon scaber Lehm.

FIGURE 130

Enneapogon scaber Lehm., Nov. Stirp. Pug. 3: 41. 1831.

Caespitose perennials. Culms 10–50 cm tall, erect, geniculate 

semiterete; internodes glabrous; butt sheaths withering, glabrous. 

Leaves basal and cauline; sheaths pubescent, ribbed, margins 

FIGURE 130. Enneapogon scaber. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, 

and blade. C. Spikelet. A drawn from V. Täckholm, M. Kassas, H. 

Fawzy, F. Shalabi, M. Zahran 1022; B, C drawn from H. G. Schweikerdt 2274 (US-2462031).

FIGURE 129. Enneapogon persicus. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, 

and blade. C. Spikelet. A drawn from V. Täckholm, M. Kassas, H. 

Fawzy, F. Shalabi, M. Zahran 248 (CAI); B, C drawn from M. Nath

(US-2044576), H. S. Gentry 12737 (US-2153633).
NUMBER 103 • 9 3

smooth; ligules a fringe of hairs; blades 3–20 cm long, 1–3 mm 

wide, linear, convolute, ascending, stiff, pubescent, margins scabrous, bases narrow, apex acuminate. Panicles 2–7 cm long, oblong, loosely contracted. Spikelets 4.5–6.5 mm long, 3-flowered, 

oblong, laterally compressed; lemmas 1.5–6.5 mm long, 9-awned, 

awns 1–1.3 mm long, straight, bristly, scabrous. Habitat: stony 

slopes. Distribution: (Ge) N Africa and Somalia, S Africa.

122. Eragrostis aegyptiaca (Willd.) Delile

FIGURE 131

Eragrostis aegyptiaca (Willd.) Delile, Descr. Égypte, Hist. Nat. 

157, t. 4, f. 2. 1813.

Caespitose annuals. Culms 1–46(–60) cm tall, erect to decumbent and prostrate; internodes glabrous; nodes dark; butt sheaths 

glabrous. Leaves basal and cauline; sheaths much longer than blade, 

open, glabrous, margins smooth; oral hairs present; ligules 1–2 mm 

long, a ciliate membrane; blades 8–25 cm long, 1–3 mm wide, linear, flat or involute, ascending or spreading, glabrous, margins scabrous, apex acuminate. Panicles 3–20 cm long, linear or lanceolate, 

open to somewhat contracted, embraced at base by subtending 

leaves; primary branches appressed or ascending, whorled at the 

lower nodes. Spikelets 3.5–15 mm long, 9–20-flowered, linear or 

oblong, laterally compressed; lemmas 1.5–1.8 mm long, awnless. 

Habitat: sandy soils. Distribution: (Mm, Nv, Nn, Di, Ge) Senegal, 

N Nigeria, Mali, Chad, and Sudan (Cope, 2005).

KEY TO THE SUBSPECIES

1a. Culms to 45(–60) cm tall, erect or ascending . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . E. aegyptiaca subsp. aegyptiaca

1b. Culms 1–5 cm tall, prostrate  . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  E. aegyptiaca subsp. humifusa H. Sch

123. Eragrostis aspera (Jacq.) Nees

FIGURE 132

Eragrostis aspera (Jacq.) Nees, Fl. Afr. Austral. Ill. 408. 1841.

Common name: eilaab gabal.

Caespitose annuals. Culms 20–70 cm tall, erect, rough, 

semiterete in cross section; internodes glabrous; butt sheaths 

glabrous. Leaves basal and cauline, glaucous; sheaths glabrous, 

margins smooth; ligules 1–2 mm long, a ciliate membrane; 

blades 8–30 cm long, 3–10 mm wide, linear, flat or involute, 

flaccid, spreading, glabrous, apex acuminate. Panicles 15–40 

cm long, open, elliptic or ovate, diffuse; primary branches ascending, spreading. Spikelets 3–10 mm long, 1–1.5 mm wide, 

5–20-flowered, linear, laterally compressed; lemmas 1.1–1.5 mm 

long, awnless. Habitat: sandy and moist habitats. Distribution: 

(Ge) tropical, S Africa to India.

124. Eragrostis barrelieri Daveau

FIGURE 133

Eragrostis barrelieri Daveau, J. Bot. (Morot) 8: 289. 1894. 

Common name: Mediterranean lovegrass.

Caespitose annuals. Culms 5–40 cm tall, erect, geniculate; 

internodes glabrous; butt sheaths glabrous. Leaves basal and 

cauline; sheaths open, glabrous, margins membranous; oral 

hairs present; ligules 1–2 mm long, a ciliate membrane; blades 

2–10 cm long, 1–3 mm wide, linear, conduplicate, appressed, 

glabrous, glaucous, margins scabrous, bases narrow, apex acuminate. Panicles 3–20 cm long, open, lanceolate or oblong; 

branches stiff, with glandular regions below the nodes forming 

bands. Spikelets 5–20 mm long, 1.3–2 mm wide, 8–25-flowered; oblong, laterally compressed; lemmas 1.7–2.3 mm long, 

awnless. Habitat: weed of cultivation. Distribution: (Mm, Nv, 

FIGURE 131. Eragrostis aegyptiaca. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and 

blade. C. Spikelet. A drawn from A. Amer 12617 (CAI); B, C drawn 

from S. Lægaard 21316 (US-3432588).
9 4 • SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO BOTANY

Nn, Dl, Di, Ol, On, S, Ge) Mediterranean region, tropical Africa to SW Asia.

125. Eragrostis cilianensis (All.) 

Vignolo ex Janch.

FIGURE 134

Eragrostis cilianensis (All.) Vignolo ex Janch., Mitt. Naturwiss. 

Vereins Univ. Wien, n.s., 5(9): 110. 1907. 

Common names: tiraab; grey lovegrass, stink grass.

Caespitose annuals. Culms 10–70(–100) cm tall, erect, geniculate; internodes glabrous, glossy; nodes dark; butt sheaths 

glabrous. Leaves basal and cauline; sheaths open, glabrous, 

ribbed, margins smooth; oral hairs present; ligules 1–2 mm long, 

a ciliate membrane; blades 3–15 cm long, 2–6 mm wide, involute, 

spreading, glabrous, margins glandular or eglandular, apex acuminate. Panicles 4–30 cm long, open or contracted, ovate, dense 

or loose. Spikelets 3–20 mm long, 2–4 mm wide, 8–30-flowered, 

oblong or ovate, laterally compressed; lemmas 2–2.5 mm long, 

keel with 1–3 crateriform glands, awnless. Habitat: sandy and 

gravelly areas, along riverbanks, and a weed of cultivation. Distribution: (Mm, Ms, Nv, Nn, Dl, Di, Ol, Ra, Ge) tropical and 

warm temperate regions.

126. Eragrostis ciliaris (L.) R. Br.

FIGURE 135

Eragrostis ciliaris (L.) R. Br., Narr. Exped. Zaire 478. 1818. 

Common names: dabbook; gophertail lovegrass.

Caespitose annuals. Culms 5–50 cm tall, erect, geniculate; 

internodes glabrous; nodes dark; butt sheaths glabrous. Leaves 

FIGURE 132. Eragrostis aspera. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and 

blade. C. Inflorescence. D. Spikelet. A, C, D modified from Ibrahim 

and Kabuye (1988); B drawn from A. J. Salubeni 449 (US-2604689).

FIGURE 133. Eragrostis barrelieri. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and 

blade. C. Spikelet. A drawn from V. Täckholm, M. Kassas, W. Girgis, M. Zahran s.n.; (CAI); B and C, drawn from S. Laegaard 15835

(US-3292376) and 15856 (US-3292353).
NUMBER 103 • 9 5

mainly cauline; sheaths longer than blade, flattened, open, 

glabrous, ribbed, margins smooth; oral hairs present; ligules 

1–2 mm long, a ciliate membrane; blades 2–12 cm long, 1–3 mm 

wide, linear, convolute, flaccid, surfaces glabrous, margins scabrous, bases narrow, apex acuminate. Panicles 1–20 cm long, 

spiciform, linear or oblong, continuous or interrupted; branches 

stiff, glandular. Spikelets 2–4.5 mm long, 6–12-flowered, ovate, 

laterally compressed; lemmas 0.8–1.5 mm long, awnless; palea 

keels pectinate-ciliate. Habitat: sandy soils, sand dunes, and 

grasslands. Distribution: (Ra, Ge) throughout the tropics.

127. Eragrostis japonica (Thunb.) Trin.

FIGURE 136

Eragrostis japonica (Thunb.) Trin., Mém. Acad. Imp. Sci. SaintPétersbourg, sér. 6, Sci. Math. 1(4): 405. 1830. 

Common name: pond lovegrass.

Caespitose annuals. Culms 10–80 cm tall, erect, geniculate; 

internodes glabrous, ribbed; nodes dark; butt sheaths glabrous. 

Leaves basal and cauline; sheaths hairy, ribbed, margins smooth; 

oral hairs present; ligules 0.3–0.6 mm long, a ciliate membrane; 

blades 3–25 cm long, 1–5 mm wide, linear, flat, flaccid, scabrous, 

margins cartilaginous, bases narrow, apex acuminate. Panicles 

4–50 cm long, open, lanceolate or ovate. Spikelets 1–2 mm long, 

4–14-flowered, oblong or ovate, laterally compressed; lemmas 

0.7–1 mm long, awnless. 

Habitat: sandy soils in alluvial flats and drainages. Distribution: (Nv, Nn) tropical Africa to SE Asia.

128. Eragrostis lepida (Hochst. ex A. Rich.) 

Hochst. ex Steud.

FIGURE 137

Eragrostis lepida (Hochst. ex A. Rich.) Hochst. ex Steud., Flora 

38: 327. 1855.

FIGURE 135. Eragrostis ciliaris. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and 

blade. C. Spikelet. A, B drawn from R. Kanal 670 (US-320567); C

modified from Peterson (2003).

FIGURE 134. Eragrostis cilianensis. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and 

blade. C. Spikelet. A, B drawn from R. Kanal 670 (US-320567); C 

modified from Peterson (2003).
9 6 • SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO BOTANY

Caespitose, annuals. Culms 10–30 cm tall, erect, geniculate; 

internodes glabrous, ribbed; nodes dark; butt sheaths glabrous. 

Leaves basal and cauline; sheaths open, glabrous, ribbed, margins scabrous; oral hairs present; ligules 1–2 mm long, a ciliate membrane; blades 2–10 cm long, 1–3 mm wide, linear, flat, 

straight, spreading, glabrous, margins cartilaginous, apex acuminate. Panicles 3–10(–15) cm long, open, lanceolate or elliptic; 

branches capillary. Spikelets 2–3 mm long, 5–13-flowered, elliptic or oblong, laterally compressed; lemmas 0.8–1.2 mm long, 

awnless; palea keels pectinate-ciliate. Habitat: rocky slopes and 

sandy soils. Distribution: (Ge) tropical E Africa and Arabia.

129. Eragrostis minor Host

FIGURE 138

Eragrostis minor Host, Icon. Descr. Gram. Austriac. 4: 15. 1809. 

Common name: little lovegrass.

Caespitose annuals. Culms 5–50 cm tall, erect, geniculate; 

internodes glabrous, semiterete in cross section, ribbed; butt 

sheaths glabrous. Leaves basal and cauline; sheaths hairy, margins hairy; oral hairs present; ligule a ciliate membrane; blades 

3–10 cm long, 1–3 mm wide, linear, hairy on basal 1⁄3, flat, 

spreading, flaccid, glabrous, margins with crateriform glands 

or eglandular, bases narrow, apex acuminate. Panicles open, 

4–20 cm long, ovate, dense or loose; branches stiff, eglandular 

or glandular; pedicels usually with glandular bands. Spikelets 

3–15 mm long, 1.3–2 mm wide, 8–16-flowered, oblong, laterally compressed; lemmas 1.6–2 mm long, awnless. Habitat: wet 

places and a weed of cultivation. Distribution: (Nv, Ol, S) subtropics and warm temperate Old World.

130. Eragrostis pilosa (L.) P. Beauv.

FIGURE 139

Eragrostis pilosa (L.) P. Beauv., Ess. Agrostogr. 71, 162, 175. 1812. 

Common names: heilagoug; Indian lovegrass.

FIGURE 136. Eragrostis japonica. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and 

blade. C. Inflorescence. D. Spikelet. A drawn from L. Boulos s.n.

(CAI); B–D drawn from S. Laegaard 21316 (US-3432588).

FIGURE 137. Eragrostis lepida. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and 

blade. C. Spikelet. A drawn from G. Täckholm s.n. (CAI); B, C 

drawn from S. Laegaard 15857 (US-3292354).
NUMBER 103 • 9 7

Solitary annuals. Culms 8–70 cm tall, erect; internodes glabrous; nodes dark; butt sheaths glabrous. Leaves basal and cauline; sheaths open, glabrous, margins smooth; oral hairs present; 

ligules 1–2 mm long, a ciliate membrane; blades 2–15 cm long, 

1–3 mm wide, linear, flat, straight, spreading, glabrous, bases 

narrow, apex acuminate. Panicles 4–25 cm long, open, elliptic 

or ovate; primary branches whorled at lower nodes, eglandular, bearded in axils. Spikelets 3–7 mm long, 0.7–1.2 mm wide, 

4–14-flowered, linear, laterally compressed; lemmas 1.2–1.7 mm 

long, awnless. Habitat: drainages and a weed of cultivation. Distribution: (Mm, Ms, Nv, Nn, Dl, Di, Ol) tropical and warm temperate regions.

131. Eragrostis sarmentosa* (Thunb.) Trin.

FIGURE 140

Eragrostis sarmentosa* (Thunb.) Trin., Mém. Acad. Imp. Sci. 

Saint-Pétersbourg, sér. 6, Sci. Math. 1(4): 398. 1830. 

Mat-forming, caespitose perennials; long stolons present; 

rhizomes less than 3 mm long, short. Culms 15–40 cm tall, 

erect, geniculate; internodes glabrous; lower nodes rooting; butt 

sheaths glabrous. Leaves mostly cauline; sheaths glabrous, margins membranous; oral hairs present; ligule a ciliate membrane; 

blades 5–10 cm long, 1–4 mm wide, linear, flat, reflexed, glabrous, margins scabrous, bases narrow, apex acuminate. Panicles 

2.5–10 cm long, contracted, interrupted below, linear; primary 

branches appressed. Spikelets 3–7 mm long, 1.5–1.7 mm wide, 

FIGURE 139. Eragrostis pilosa. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and 

blade. C. Spikelet. A, B drawn from H. A. Allard 21862 (US2236901); C modified from Peterson (2003).

FIGURE 138. Eragrostis minor. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and 

blade. C. Spikelet. A–C drawn from E. Baltars 3427 (US-2577113A).
9 8 • SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO BOTANY

6–8-flowered, linear or oblong; laterally compressed; lemmas 

1.4–1.5 mm long, awnless. Habitat: introduced. Distribution: 

(Ms) S Africa, tropical Asia.

132. Eragrostis tef (Zucc.) Trotter

FIGURE 141

Eragrostis tef (Zucc.) Trotter, Boll. Soc. Bot. Ital. 1918: 62. 1918. 

Common names: ruby silk lovegrass, teff.

Caespitose annuals. Culms 15–70 cm tall, erect, geniculate, glabrous; internodes glabrous; nodes dark; butt sheaths 

glabrous. Leaves basal and cauline; sheaths hairy on the 

upper 1⁄3, ribbed, margins smooth; ligules 1–2 mm long, a ciliate membrane; blades 10–25 cm long, 1–3 mm wide, linear, 

conduplicate, spreading, reflexed, scaberulous, margins scabrous, bases narrow, apex acuminate. Panicles 10–40 cm long, 

open or contracted, lanceolate or ovate; primary branches 

whorled at lower nodes. Spikelets 5.5–9 mm long, 1.5–2 mm 

wide, 4–16-flowered, oblong, laterally compressed; lemmas 

1.6–3 mm long, awnless.

Habitat: an escape from cultivation. Distribution: (Nv, Ol) 

Ethiopia.

FIGURE 141. Eragrostis tef. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and blade. 

C. Inflorescence. D. Spikelet. A, C drawn from Persson s.n. (CAI); B, 

D drawn from T. Ebba 57 (US-2464392).

FIGURE 140. Eragrostis sarmentosa. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, 

and blade. C. Spikelet. A–C drawn from S. Laegaard 15920 (US3292338).
NUMBER 103 • 9 9

133. Eragrostis tenella* (L.) P. Beauv. 

ex Roem & Schult.

FIGURE 142

Eragrostis tenella*, Syst. Veg. 2: 576. 1817. [Eragrostis amabilis

(L.) Wight & Arn.; Poa amabilis L.]

Common name: Japanese lovegrass.

Caespitose annuals. Culms 5–40 cm tall, erect; internodes 

glabrous, glossy; nodes dark; butt sheaths glabrous. Leaves basal 

and cauline; sheaths open, glabrous, ribbed, margins smooth; 

ligules 0.2–0.3 mm long, a fringe of hairs; blades 2–8 cm long, 

1–3 mm wide, linear, flat, spreading, straight, glabrous, margins 

cartilaginous, apex acuminate. Panicles 2–14 cm long, open, 

narrowly ovate; primary panicle branches spreading. Spikelets 1.5–2.5 mm long, 4–8-flowered, ovate or oblong, laterally 

compressed; lemmas 0.7–1.1 mm long, awnless. Habitat: rocky 

slopes. Distribution: (Ge) throughout the tropics.

134. Eragrostis tenuifolia (A. Rich.) 

Hochst ex Steud.

FIGURE 143

Eragrostis tenuifolia (A. Rich.) Hochst ex Steud., Syn. Pl. Glumac. 1: 268. 1854. 

Common names: elastic grass, wiry lovegrass.

Caespitose perennials. Culms 30–70 cm tall, erect, geniculate, glabrous, ribbed; butt sheaths glabrous. Leaves basal and 

cauline; sheaths open, keeled, glabrous, ribbed, margins sparsely 

hairy; oral hairs present; ligules 1–2 mm long, a ciliate membrane; blades 4–20 cm long, 2–4 mm wide, linear, conduplicate, 

FIGURE 142. Eragrostis tenella. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and 

blade. C. Spikelet. A drawn from J. W. Helfer 160 (CAI); B, C drawn 

from S. Lægaard 15857 (US-3292354).

FIGURE 143. Eragrostis tenuifolia. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and 

blade. C. Inflorescence. D. Spikelet. A, C modified from Ibrahim and 

Kabuye (1988); B, D drawn from A. Pappi 9398 (US-2874952).
100 • SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO BOTANY

spreading, reflexed, glabrous, margins cartilaginous, bases narrow, apex acuminate. Panicles 5–20 cm long, open, elliptic, terminal; branches glabrous or bearded in axils. Spikelets 4–16 mm 

long, 1–3 mm wide, 6–14-flowered, linear, strongly laterally 

compressed, breaking up at maturity; lemmas 1.2–2.5 mm long, 

awnless. Habitat: sandy soils, usually in wet areas, roadsides, 

often in disturbed habitats. Distribution: (Nv) tropical Africa.

135. Eragrostis tremula* Hocht & Steud.

FIGURE 144

Eragrostis tremula* Hocht & Steud., Syn. Pl. Glumac. 1: 269. 

1854. 

Common names: bano, bannu.

Caespitose annuals. Culms up to 35 cm tall, erect, geniculate; internodes glabrous; butt sheaths glabrous. Leaves basal 

and cauline; sheaths open, glabrous, margins smooth; oral hairs 

present; ligules 2 mm long, a ciliate membrane; blades 8–25 

cm long, 1–3 mm wide, linear, convolute, glabrous, straight; 

spreading, bases narrow, apex filiform, attenuate. Panicles 

7–30 cm long, ovate; branches flexuous, eglandular, glabrous 

or bearded in axils. Spikelets 5–25 mm long, 1.5–2 mm wide, 

10–60-flowered, linear, laterally compressed; lemmas 1.5–1.7 

mm long, awnless. Habitat: introduced. Distribution: (Nv) 

tropical Africa to India.

136. Eremopyrum bonaepartis (Spreng.) 

Nevski

FIGURE 145

Eremopyrum bonaepartis (Spreng.) Nevski, Trudy Bot. Inst. 

Akad. Nauk S.S.S.R., ser. 1, Fl. Sist. Vyssh. Rast. 1: 18. 1933. 

Common name: tapertip false wheatgrass.

FIGURE 144. Eragrostis tremula. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and 

blade. C. Inflorescence. D. Spikelet. A, C drawn from K. Ibrahim 

1707 (CAI); B, D drawn from W. A. Archer 9398 (US-2236337).

FIGURE 145. Eremopyrum bonaepartis. A. Habit. B. Ligule, 

sheath, and blade. C. Spikelet. A drawn from N. El Hadidy, 

Amal Hosny, Azza El Hadidi s.n. (CAI); B, C drawn from L. E. 

Long 302 (US-2209724).
NUMBER 103 • 101

Caespitose annuals. Culms 10–30 cm tall, erect, geniculate or decumbent; internodes glabrous, ribbed; nodes dark; 

butt sheaths glabrous. Leaves basal and cauline; sheaths hairy, 

margins hairy; auricles falcate; ligules 2–3 mm long, decurrent, 

membranous, apex erose; blades 5–10 cm long, 3–8 mm wide, 

lanceolate, flat, ascending, scabrous, margins scabrous, apex 

acuminate. Spikes 1.5–4 cm long, 4–18 mm wide, single, oblong, 

bilateral; rachis fragile at the nodes. Spikelets 15–20 mm long, 

oblong, laterally compressed; lemmas 5–7.5 mm long, unawned 

or short awned, the awns up to 3 mm long. Habitat: rocky 

slopes. Distribution: (S) SW and C Asia.

137. Eremopyrum distans* (K. Koch) Nevski

FIGURE 146

Eremopyrum distans* (K. Koch) Nevski, Trudy Bot. Inst. Akad. 

Nauk S.S.S.R., ser. 1, Fl. Sist. Vyssh. Rast. 1: 18. 1933. 

Caespitose annuals. Culms 8–20 cm tall, erect, geniculate; 

internodes glabrous; nodes dark; butt sheaths glabrous. Leaves 

basal and cauline; sheaths flattened, glabrous, ribbed, margins 

membranous; auricles falcate; ligules 1–3 mm long, decurrent, 

membranous, apex erose; blades 6–8 cm long, 2–3 mm wide, 

linear, flat, appressed, glabrous or pubescent, margins scabrous, 

bases narrow, apex acuminate. Spikes 2.5–5 cm long, 15–25 mm 

wide, single, oblong, bilateral; rachis fragile at the nodes. Spikelets 15–25 mm long, oblong, laterally compressed; glumes 

6–7 mm long, 1-awned; principal lemmas as long or slightly exceeding the glumes, awns 5–7 mm long; paleae mucronate to 

short awned, the awns up to 1.5 mm long. Habitat: weed of 

cultivation. Distribution: (S) SW and C Asia.

138. Festuca brevis (Boiss. & Kotschy) Asch., 

Schweinf. & Muschl.

FIGURE 147

Festuca brevis (Boiss. & Kotschy) Asch., Schweinf. & Muschl., 

Man. Fl. Egypt 1: 138. 1912. [Vulpia brevis Boiss. & 

Kotschy.]

FIGURE 147. Festuca brevis. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and blade. 

C. Spikelet. A–C drawn from A. Letourneux 63 (US-1006640).

FIGURE 146. Eremopyrum distans. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and 

blade. C. Spikelet. A drawn from S. Collenette 4584 (CAI); B, C 

drawn from A. Nechelson (US-1063471).
102 • SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO BOTANY

Solitary dwarf annuals. Culms 3–10 cm tall, erect, geniculate; internodes glabrous, ridged; butt sheaths glabrous. Leaves 

basal and cauline; sheaths flattened, glabrous, ribbed, margins 

hairy; ligules 1–2 mm long, membranous, serrate, decurrent; 

blades 3–10 cm long, 1–2 mm wide, linear, involute, ascending, flaccid, scaberulous, margins glandular, apex acuminate. 

Panicles 2–6 cm long, 0.8–1.5 cm wide, 1-sided, dense, contracted, oblong, partially included in the upper sheath. Spikelets 

7–10 mm long, in threes, cuneate, laterally compressed; glumes 

7–8 mm long, 1-awned; lemmas 6–7 mm long, awns 5–10 mm 

long, straight, bristly. Habitat: sandy fields often derived from 

calcareous bedrock. Distribution: (Mm, Ms, Nv) N Africa.

139. Festuca bromoides L.

FIGURE 148

Festuca bromoides, Sp. Pl. 1: 75. 1753. [Vulpia bromoides (L.) 

Gray.] 

Common names: brome fescue, silver grass.

Solitary or caespitose annuals. Culms 5–50 cm tall, erect, 

geniculate, weak; internodes glabrous, ridged; nodes dark; butt 

sheaths glabrous. Leaves mostly basal; sheaths glabrous, margins 

entire; ligules 0.5 mm long, membranous, apex truncate; blades 

1–15 cm long, 0.5–3 mm wide, linear, involute, ascending, flaccid, pubescent, margins scaberulous, apex acuminate. Panicles 

1–10 cm long, sparsely branched, 1-sided, dense, open or contracted, lanceolate or oblong, partially included in the upper 

sheath. Spikelets 7–14 mm long, solitary, oblong, or cuneate, laterally compressed; lemmas 5–10 mm long, awns 5–12 mm long, 

straight, bristly. Habitat: weed of cultivation and waste places. 

Distribution: (Mm, unconfirmed) S Europe and temperate Asia.

140. Festuca fasciculata Forssk.

FIGURE 149

Festuca fasciculata Forssk., Fl. Aegypt.-Arab. 22. 1775. [Vulpia 

fasciculata (Forssk.) Samp.] 

Common name: dune fescue.

FIGURE 149. Festuca fasciculata. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and 

blade. C. Spikelet. A–C drawn from B. Balansa s.n.(US-1126373).

FIGURE 148. Festuca bromoides. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and 

blade. C. Inflorescence. D. Spikelet. A drawn from M. Drar 456

(CAI); B–D drawn from H. F. Mooney 6348 (US-2907068), R. F. 

Hoover 501 (US-1984518).
NUMBER 103 • 103

Caespitose annuals. Culms 10–50 cm tall, erect, geniculate, 

weak, wiry; internodes glabrous, ridged; nodes dark; butt sheaths 

glabrous. Leaves basal and cauline, open, glabrous, ribbed, margins membranous; ligules 1–2 mm long, membranous, apex 

obtuse, decurrent; blades 3–10 cm long, 1–2.5 mm wide, linear, conduplicate, spreading, flaccid, ribbed, hairy on basal 1⁄3, 

margins scabrous, apex acuminate. Panicles 2–12 cm, 1-sided, 

dense, contracted, oblong, partially included in upper sheath. 

Spikelets 12–16 mm long, solitary, oblong, or cuneate, laterally compressed; lemmas 8–18 mm long, awns 6–16 mm long, 

straight, bristly. Habitat: sandy fields. Distribution: (Mm, Ms, 

Nv) W Europe and Mediterranean region eastward to Caucasia.

141. Festuca myuros L.

FIGURE 150

Festuca myuros L., Sp. Pl. 1: 74–75. 1753. [Vulpia myuros (L.) 

C. C. Gmel.] 

Common name: rattail fescue.

Caespitose annuals. Culms 10–60 cm tall, erect, geniculate, 

wiry; internodes glabrous; butt sheaths glabrous. Leaves basal 

and cauline; sheaths glabrous, ribbed, margins membranous; ligules 0.3–1 mm long, membranous, apex obtuse; blades 3–10 cm 

long, 0.5–2.5 mm wide, linear-filiform, involute, curly, ascending, flaccid, pubescent, margins scabrous, apex acuminate. 

Panicles 5–30 cm long, often 1-sided, exserted or embraced at 

base by subtending sheaths. Spikelets 7–10 mm long, solitary, 

partially included in sheath, oblong or cuneate, laterally compressed; lemmas 4.5–7.5 mm long, awns 5–15 mm long, straight, 

bristly. Habitat: sandy soils. Distribution: (Mm, S) Europe and 

temperate Asia.

142. Festuca pectinella Delile

FIGURE 151

Festuca pectinella Delile, Ind. Sem. Hort. Monsp. 24. 1836. 

[Vulpia pectinella (Delile) Boiss.]

Common name: sobbeila.

FIGURE 151. Festuca pectinella. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and 

blade. C. Spikelets. A drawn from G. Täckholm s.n. (CAI); B, C 

drawn from G. Lopez & F. M. Garmedia (US-3527514).

FIGURE 150. Festuca myuros. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and 

blade. C. Spikelet. A, B drawn from F. J. Hermann 10533 (US2146187); C modified from Hitchcock (1951).
104 • SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO BOTANY

Solitary annuals. Culms 5–15 cm tall, erect, geniculate, 

weak, wiry; internodes glabrous; nodes dark; butt sheaths glabrous. Leaves basal and cauline, sheaths flattened, open, glabrous, margins membranous; auricles clawlike; ligules 1–2 mm 

long, membranous, apex obtuse; blades 1–10 cm long, 0.5–1 mm 

wide, filiform, involute, spreading, curly, scabrous, margins scabrous, apex acuminate. Panicles 2–3 cm long, 1-sided, pectinate, 

single, straight or arcuate, unilateral. Spikelets 4–6 mm long, solitary, cuneate, laterally compressed; lemmas about 3 mm long, 

mucronate, awnless. Habitat: sandy fields. Distribution: (Mm, 

Ms, Di, S) N Africa, Syria, and Palestine.

143. Gastridium phleoides 

(Nees & Meyen) C. E. Hubb.

FIGURE 152

Gastridium phleoides (Nees & Meyen) C. E. Hubb., Kew Bull. 9: 

375. 1954. [Lachnagrostis phleoides Nees & Meyen.] 

Common name: nit grass.

Solitary annuals. Culms 10–50 cm tall, erect, geniculate; internodes glabrous, ribbed; butt sheaths glabrous. Leaves basal 

and cauline; sheaths glabrous, ribbed, margins entire; ligules 

6–7 mm long, membranous, apex acute; blades 2–10 cm long, 

1–3 mm wide, linear, flat, ascending, flaccid, scaberulous on 

both sides, margins entire, apex acute. Panicles 5–18 cm long, 

0.5–1.5 cm wide, spiciform, lanceolate to oblong. Spikelets 

5–7.5 mm long, oblong, laterally compressed; lemmas 1–1.3 mm 

long, awns 5–7 mm long, geniculate, twisted, scabrous.

Habitat: sandy soils. Distribution: (Mm) Mediterranean 

and tropical E Africa.

144. Halopyrum mucronatum (L.) Stapf

FIGURE 153

Halopyrum mucronatum (L.) Stapf, Hooker’s Icon. Pl. 25: 

t. 2448. 1896.

FIGURE 153. Halopyrum mucronatum. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, 

and blade. C. Inflorescence. D. Spikelet. E. Lemma. A drawn from 

V. Täckholm, M. Kassas, H. Fawzy, F. Shalabi, M. Zahran 640 & 

1111 (CAI); B–D drawn from M. Mandaville 31 (US-2379493); E 

modified from Cope (2005).

FIGURE 152. Gastridium phleoides. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, 

and blade. C. Enlarged floret (left) and spikelet (right). A–C drawn 

from R. J. Soreng 3802 (US-3561052).
NUMBER 103 • 105

Caespitose perennials; stolons present. Culms 60–100 cm 

tall, woody, hairy, erect; internodes glabrous; butt sheaths fibrous, glabrous. Leaves basal and cauline; sheaths glabrous, 

margins entire; ligule a fringe of hairs; blades 10–40 cm long, 

2–10 mm wide, filiform, involute, appressed, curly, glabrous, 

ribbed, margins entire, apex attenuate. Panicles 10–40 cm 

long with 3–10 unilateral branches borne along a central axis; 

branches bearing 3–7 fertile spikelets; rachis angular. Spikelets 

12–26 mm long, 5–7 mm wide, 8–25-flowered, ovate, laterally 

compressed, packed broadside to the rachis; lemmas 7.5–8.5 mm 

long, coriaceous, apex acute or mucronate, awnless. Habitat: 

coastal sandy dunes along the Red Sea. Distribution: (Ge) shores 

of Indian Ocean from Mozambique to Sri Lanka.

145. Hemarthria altissima (Poir.) 

Stapf & C. E. Hubb.

FIGURE 154

Hemarthria altissima (Poir.) Stapf & C. E. Hubb., Bull. Misc. 

Inform. Kew 1934: 109. 1934. 

Common names: hasheesh dakar, hasheesh shami, roqeyba; 

limpograss.

Caespitose perennials; stolons present. Culms up to 250 cm 

tall, decumbent or prostrate; internodes glabrous; lower nodes 

rooting, bearded, dark; butt sheaths glabrous. Leaves basal and 

cauline; sheaths hairy on the upper 1⁄3, margins entire; collars 

hairy, ciliate; ligules 1–2 mm long, ciliate membranes; blades 

5–15 cm long, 2–4 mm wide, linear, flat, spreading, flaccid, 

glabrous, margins cartilaginous, apex acute. Racemes 4–10 cm 

long, single, erect, partially enclosed in sheaths, smooth; rachis 

fracturing into irregular segments, flattened, margins glabrous; 

internodes cuneate. Spikelets 4–6 mm long, in pairs, lanceolate, 

dorsally compressed; lemmas awnless. Habitat: moist places bordering streams and lakes, usually in water or mud. Distribution: 

(Mm, Ms, Nv, Nn) S Europe southward to the cape.

146. Holcus annuus* Salzm. ex C. A. Mey.

FIGURE 155

Holcus annuus* Salzm. ex C. A. Mey., Verz. Pfl. Casp. Meer. 

17. 1831. 

Common name: annual fog.

FIGURE 155. Holcus annuus. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and blade. 

C. Spikelet showing floret detached from glumes. A–C drawn from 

R. J. Soreng, R. Zarco, J. Arroyo 3642 (US-3565387).

FIGURE 154. Hemarthria altissima. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, 

and blade. C. Segment of inflorescence. D. Spikelet. A drawn from 

N. El Hadidi s.n. (CAI); B–D drawn from A. J. Oakes 1517 (US3030926); B modified from Allen (2003a).
106 • SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO BOTANY

Caespitose annuals. Culms 20–100 cm tall, erect, geniculate; internodes glabrous; nodes pubescent; butt sheaths glabrous. Leaves basal and cauline; sheaths flattened, pubescent, 

margins entire; ligules 4 mm long, membranous, apex lacerate, 

erose; blades 2–8 cm long, 1–2 mm wide, linear, flat, hairy on 

both sides, margins entire, bases narrow, apex acute. Panicles 

5–8 cm long, erect, terminal, compact, elliptic. Spikelets 3–5 mm 

long, strongly laterally compressed, elliptic; glumes mucronate or 

short awned, the awns 1–2.5 mm long; lemmas 1.5–2 mm long, 

cartilaginous, upper sterile lemma awned, the awns 2–3 mm 

long, terminal, straight. Habitat: sandy soils, introduced. Distribution: (Mm, Nv) Mediterranean region.

147. Hordeum marinum Huds.

FIGURE 156

Hordeum marinum Huds., Fl. Angl., ed. 2, 1: 57. 1778. 

Common names: bohma; sha’iriya; sea barley.

Solitary annuals. Culms 10–60 cm tall, erect, geniculate, 

weak; internodes glabrous, ribbed; butt sheaths sparsely hairy. 

Leaves basal and cauline; sheaths hairy, margins smooth; auricles 

clawlike; ligules 1 mm long, membranous, apex truncate; blades 

5–15 cm long, 3–8 mm long, linear, flat, flaccid, spreading, glabrous, margins scabrous, apex acute. Spikelike racemes 2–6 mm 

long, simple, oblong or ovate, bilateral, partially included in the 

sheath; rachis fragile at the nodes, flattened. Spikelets 6–8 mm 

long, lanceolate, dorsally compressed, three at a node, packed 

broadside to rachis; lower glumes of the lateral spikelets winged 

or setaceous, appearing long awned; central lemmas 5–8 mm 

long, awned, the awns 10–24 mm long, straight, bristly. Habitat: 

sandy and alluvial soils. Distribution: (Mm, Ms, Nv, Ol) Europe, 

Mediterranean to SW and C Asia.

KEY TO THE SUBSPECIES

1a. Lower glumes of the lateral spikelets with a flattened wing, the wings 0.5–2.3 mm wide . . . . H. marinum subsp. marinum

1a. Lower glumes of the lateral spikelets usually setaceous, not winged 

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  H. marinum subsp. gussoneanum (Parl.) Thell., Vierteljahrsschr. Nat

148. Hordeum murinum L.

FIGURE 157

Hordeum murinum L., Sp. Pl., ed. 1: 85. 1753.

Common names: sha’eer el deep; wall barley.

Solitary annuals. Culms 30–100 cm tall, erect, geniculate; internodes glabrous, ribbed; butt sheaths sparsely hairy 

or glabrous. Leaves basal and cauline; sheaths flattened, glabrous, margins smooth; auricles clawlike; ligules 1–2 mm long, 

membranous, apex truncate; blades 7–20 cm long, 2–8 mm wide, 

linear or lanceolate, flat, sparsely hairy, margins ciliate and/or 

scabrous, apex acute. Spikelike racemes 4–12 cm long, erect, single, linear or oblong, bilateral, partially included in the sheath; 

rachis fragile at the nodes, flattened; internodes 3–3.5 mm long, 

oblong, falling with spikelets above. Spikelets 7–12 mm long, 

lanceolate, dorsally compressed, 3 at a node; central lemmas 

8–14 mm long, awns 15–25 mm long, straight, bristly. Habitat: 

sandy and alluvial soils. Distribution: (Mm, Ms, Nv, Dl, Dg, Di, 

Ol, S) Mediterranean to Asia.

FIGURE 156. Hordeum marinum. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and 

blade. C. Spikelets (central and two laterals). A drawn from V. Täckholm s.n. (CAI); B, C drawn from J. Vickery 10039 (US-2528313).
NUMBER 103 • 107

KEY TO THE SUBSPECIES

1a. Leaf blades green; anthers of central spikelets 0.7–1.4 mm long; rachilla extension of the lateral spikelets slender, 

green  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  H. muri

1b. Leaf blades glaucous; anthers of central spikelets 0.2–0.5 mm long; rachilla extension of the lateral spikelets stout, 

orangish brown . . . . . . . . . . . . . . H. murinum subsp. glaucum (Steud.) Tzvelev, Novosti Sist. Vyssh. Rast. 8: 67. 1971

149. Hordeum spontaneum K. Koch

FIGURE 158

Hordeum spontaneum K. Koch, Linnaea 21: 430. 1848.

Common names: shaeer bari; barley wheat.

Caespitose or solitary annuals. Culms 30–70 cm tall, robust, 

erect; internodes glabrous; nodes dark; butt sheath glabrous. 

Leaves basal and cauline; sheaths, glabrous, ribbed, margins 

smooth; auricles clawlike; ligules 1–2 mm long, membranous, 

apex truncate; blades 5–15 cm long, 1–3 mm wide, linear, flat, 

flaccid, smooth, scaberulous, margins ciliate, apex acute. Spikelike racemes 4–9 cm long, 6–8 mm wide, simple, linear, bilateral, 

partially included in the sheath; rachis fragile at the nodes, flattened, ciliate on margins; internodes 3.5–5 mm long, oblong, falling with spikelets above. Spikelets 12–14 mm long, lanceolate, 

FIGURE 158. Hordeum spontaneum. A. Habit. B. Ligule, 

sheath, and blade. C. Spikelet triad. A drawn from V. Täckholm, 

S. Sisi, M. Mahdi s.n. (CAI); B, C drawn from J. B. Gillett 15609

(US-2622681).

FIGURE 157. Hordeum murinum. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, 

and blade. C. Spikelets (central and two laterals). A, B drawn from 

C. F. Reed s.n. (US-3049731); C modified from Von Bothmer et 

al. (2007).
108 • SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO BOTANY

dorsally compressed, 3 at a node, packed broadside to the rachis; glumes 1-awned, the awn 10–15 mm long; central lemmas 

12–14 mm long, awns 4–14 cm long, straight, bristly. Habitat: 

sandy soils. Distribution: (Mm, Di) Mediterranean to C Asia.

150. Hordeum vulgare* L.

FIGURE 159

Hordeum vulgare* L., Sp. Pl. 1: 84, 85. 1753. 

Common names: sha’eer; common barley.

Caespitose or solitary annuals. Culms 30–80 cm tall, erect, 

glabrous, ribbed; butt sheaths glabrous. Leaves basal and cauline; 

sheaths hairy, ribbed, margins smooth, auricles clawlike; ligules 

1–2 mm long, membranous, apex truncate; blades 8–40 cm long, 

4–10 mm wide, linear, flat, reflexed, spreading, scabrous, margins 

smooth, apex acute. Spikelike racemes 3–8 cm long, bilateral, 

partially included in the sheath; rachis tough, flattened; internodes 

cuneate. Spikelets 10–15 mm long, cuneate, dorsally compressed, 

3 at a node, packed broadside to the rachis, regular, 6-rowed; 

glumes 4–10 mm long, 1-awned; central lemmas 6–12 mm long, 

awns 8–14 mm long, straight, bristly. Habitat: cultivated. Distribution: (Mm, Nv, Nn, Di, S) throughout the world.

151. Hyparrhenia hirta (L.) Stapf

FIGURE 160

Hyparrhenia hirta (L.) Stapf, Fl. Trop. Afr. 9(2): 315. 1919. 

Common names: hemeira, sabat, safsoof; thatching grass.

Caespitose perennials; rhizomes short. Culms 30–50 cm 

tall, weak, wiry, erect; internodes glabrous; butt sheaths glabrous. Leaves mostly basal; sheaths flattened, margins hairy; 

ligules 2–3 mm long, membranous, apex erose, lacerate; blades 

FIGURE 160. Hyparrhenia hirta. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and 

blade. C. Inflorescence. D. Segment of inflorescence. E. Spikelet. A, 

C drawn from N. El Hadidi s.n. (CAI); B, E drawn from A. S. Hitchcock 24082 (US-1445876); D modified from Ibrahim and Kabuye 

(1988).

FIGURE 159. Hordeum vulgare. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and 

blade. C. Inflorescence. D. Spikelets (central and two laterals). 

A–C drawn from P. Fleming 795 (US-3193000), E. S. Steele s.n.

(US-364260); D modified from Von Bothmer et al. (2007).
NUMBER 103 • 109

2–15 cm long, 1–2(–4) mm wide, linear, flat or conduplicate, 

stiff, firm, glaucous, scabrous, margins cartilaginous, apex attenuate. Racemes 2–4 cm long, in pairs, each bearing 4–7(–8) 

fertile spikelets, subtended by spatheoles, exserted; spatheoles 

3–8 cm long, linear or lanceolate, membranous, reddish; peduncles 3–8 cm long, glabrous or pilose above; rachis fragile at the 

nodes, ciliate on margins, hairs white. Spikelets 4–6.5 mm long, 

in pairs, linear or elliptic, dorsally compressed; principal lemma 

awns 10–35 mm long, geniculate, twisted, bristly. Habitat: wadi 

beds, dry grasslands, and rocky slopes. Distribution: (Mm, Nv, 

Dg, Di, S, Ra) Mediterranean to S Africa and SW Asia.

152. Imperata cylindrica* (L.) P. Beauv.

FIGURE 161

Imperata cylindrica* (L.) P. Beauv., Ess. Agrostogr. 8, 165, 177, 

pl. 5, f. 1. 1812. 

Common names: deil el-qott, halfa, silla; cogongrass.

Caespitose perennials; rhizomes elongated, scaly. Culms 

10–100 cm tall, erect; internodes glabrous; nodes bearded; 

butt sheaths glabrous. Leaves mostly basal; sheaths hairy on 

the upper 1⁄3, margins sparsely hairy; oral hairs present; ligules 

1–2 mm long, ciliate membranes; blades 3–80 cm long, 2–20 mm 

wide, linear, flat or conduplicate, ascending, scabrous, margins 

scaberulous, apex acute. Panicles 3–22 cm long, spiciform, linear; primary branches appressed to a central axis, with evident 

branchlets on axis, each branch bearing few fertile spikelets; 

rachis tough, subterete; internodes filiform. Spikelets 2.2–6 mm 

long, in pairs, lanceolate, subterete, falling entire; callus bearded, 

hairs white, base truncate; lower lemmas 1.4 mm long, awnless. 

Habitat: waste places, introduced. Distribution: (Mm, Ms, Nv, 

Nn, Dl, Dg, Di, Ol, S, Rz, Rq, Ra) tropical and warm temperate 

Old World, S America.

153. Lagurus ovatus L.

FIGURE 162

Lagurus ovatus L., Sp. Pl. 1: 81. 1753. 

Common name: hare’s-tail grass.

FIGURE 162. Lagurus ovatus. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and 

blade. C. Inflorescence. D. Spikelet. A drawn from V. Täckholm, 

S. Sisi and M. Mahdi s.n. (CAI); B–D drawn from C. Aurich & 

H. Forther (US-3343374).

FIGURE 161. Imperata cylindrica. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and 

blade. C. Inflorescence. D. Segment of inflorescence. E. Spikelet. A, 

C drawn from L. Boulos s.n. (CAI); B, D, E drawn from J. Ash s.n. 

(US-2819790).
110 • SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO BOTANY

Solitary annuals. Culms 5–30 cm tall, erect; internodes pubescent, ribbed; butt sheaths glabrous. Leaves basal and cauline; 

sheaths much longer than blades and adjacent nodes, flattened, 

keeled, pubescent, margins ciliolate; oral hairs present; ligules 

1–3 mm long, ciliate membranes; blades 1–20 cm long, 2–10 mm 

long, linear-lanceolate, flat, appressed, straight, surfaces pilose 

on both sides, margins ciliate, apex acute. Panicles 1–7 cm long, 

0.6–2 cm wide, capitate, oblong, ovate or globose. Spikelets 

8–10 mm long, lanceolate, laterally compressed, breaking up at 

maturity, disarticulating below each fertile floret; callus pubescent; principal lemmas 3–5 mm long, half as long as the glumes, 

awned, the awns 8–18 mm long, geniculate with twisted column, 

feathery. Habitat: coastal sand. Distribution: (Mm) Mediterranean region.

154. Lamarckia aurea (L.) Moench

FIGURE 163

Lamarckia aurea (L.) Moench, Methodus 201. 1794. 

Common name: goldentop grass.

Caespitose annuals; roots fibrous. Culms 8–40 cm tall, 

decumbent, weak; internodes glabrous; butt sheaths glabrous. 

Leaves basal and cauline; sheaths ribbed, glabrous, margins 

membranous; ligules 6–8 mm long, membranous, apex acute; 

blades 3–20 cm long, 2–7 mm wide, linear, flat, spreading, flaccid, scabrous, margins smooth, apex acute. Panicles 3–6 cm long, 

secund, compact, ovate, gathered into a fascicle, axis bearing deciduous spikelet clusters; branches pilose. Spikelets 3–5 mm long, 

linear; flat, spreading, flaccid, subtended by involucres, ovate, 

laterally compressed; glumes 1 mm long, 1-awned; bisexual lemmas 2.4–3 mm long, awned, the awns 6 mm long, straight, scabrid. Habitat: sandy and stony habitats. Distribution: (Mm, Nv, 

Di) Micronesia to NE Africa and C Asia.

155. Lasiurus scindicus Henrard 

FIGURE 164

Lasiurus scindicus Henrard, Blumea 4(3): 514. 1941. 

Common names: samaat, sewan.

Caespitose perennials; rhizomes short, thick, woody, scaly. 

Culms 30–100 cm tall, erect, straight, often woody below; internodes glabrous; nodes dark; butt sheaths sparsely hairy. Leaves 

mostly basal; sheaths longer than blade, flattened, ribbed, hairy 

on the upper 1⁄3, margins smooth; ligule a fringe of hairs; oral 

hairs present; blades 8–30 cm long, 1–3(–6) mm wide, linear, 

involute, spreading, flaccid, glabrous, margins smooth, apex attenuate. Racemes 5–12 cm long, single, surrounded by hairs, partially included in the sheath; rachis fragile at the nodes, flattened, 

glabrous, pubescent or villous, ciliate on margins; rachis internodes cuneate, disarticulating horizontally. Spikelets 7–9 mm 

long, lanceolate, dorsally compressed, 3 at a node, falling as a 

unit; lemmas awnless. Habitat: coastal sand. Distribution: (Nv, 

Dg, Di, S, Ra, Ge) tropical E Africa to NW India.

156. Leersia hexandra Sw.

FIGURE 165

Leersia hexandra Sw., Prodr. 21. 1788.

Common names: shillakh, sholleikh; rice cut grass.

Mat-forming perennials; rhizomes elongated. Culms 

20–100 cm tall, erect, geniculate; internodes pubescent; nodes 

bearded, lower rooting; butt sheaths glabrous. Leaves mostly 

basal; sheaths glabrous, margins smooth; auricles clawlike; ligules 1–2 mm long, membranous, apex acute; blades 5–20 cm 

FIGURE 163. Lamarckia aurea. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and 

blade. C. Spikelet pair, fertile (left) and sterile (right). A drawn from 

T. Cope, G. Fahmy, I. El Garf 256 (CAI); B, C drawn from G. Schweinfurth 1682 (US-822586).
NUMBER 103 • 111

long, 1–3(–8) mm wide, linear, flat, spreading, flaccid, scabrous, 

margins scabrous, apex acute. Panicles 5–12 cm long, 1–4 cm 

wide, open, elliptic or oblong; primary branches bearing spikelets almost to the base. Spikelets (3.2–)3.4–4.8(–5.2) mm long, 

(1–)1.2–1.4(–1.7) mm wide, oblong, laterally compressed, falling as a unit; lemmas awnless; anthers 6. Habitat: aquatic grass 

in water or marshland, weed of cultivation. Distribution: (Mm, 

Ms, Nv, Ol) throughout the tropics.

157. Leptothrium senegalense (Kunth) Clayton

FIGURE 166

Leptothrium senegalense (Kunth) Clayton, Kew Bull. 27: 151. 

1972. 

Common names: teiraab; hook grass.

Caespitose, short-lived perennials. Culms up to 75 cm tall, 

wiry, erect, geniculate; internodes glabrous; nodes dark; butt 

sheaths glabrous. Leaves basal and cauline; sheaths much longer than the blade, flattened, ribbed, glabrous, margins membranous; ligule a fringe of hairs; blades 2–10 cm long, 1–2 mm wide, 

linear, involute, spreading, straight, scabrous, margins smooth, 

apex attenuate. Racemes numerous, borne along a central axis, 

in multilateral false spikes, spreading, cuneate, bearing few fertile spikelets. Spikelets 2.5–8 mm long, linear to lanceolate, laterally compressed, in pairs, gibbous; lemmas awnless. Habitat: 

sandy soils in desert grasslands. Distribution: (Ra, Ge) tropical 

Africa and SW Asia.

FIGURE 165. Leersia hexandra. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and 

blade. C. Inflorescence. D. Segment of Inflorescence. E. Spikelet. A 

drawn from Täckholm s.n. (CAI); B, E drawn from J. Newbould & 

R. M. Harley 4434 (US-2473157); C, D modified from Ibrahim and 

Kabuye (1988).

FIGURE 164. Lasiurus scindicus. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and 

blade. C. Spikelet. A drawn from L. Boulos s.n. (CAI); B, C drawn 

from A. Rawi, R. Jalili and A. Amer s.n. (US-2970973).
112 • SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO BOTANY

158. Lolium arundinaceum* (Schreb.) Darbysh.

FIGURE 167

Lolium arundinaceum* (Schreb.) Darbysh., Novon 3(3): 241. 

1993. [Festuca arundinacea Schreb., Spic. Fl. Lips. 57. 1771.] 

Common name: tall fescue.

Caespitose perennials. Culms 50–150 cm tall, erect, geniculate; internodes glabrous, ribbed; nodes dark; butt sheaths 

glabrous. Leaves basal and cauline; sheaths glabrous, ribbed, 

margins smooth; collars dark colored, ciliate; auricles clawlike; 

ligules 1–2 mm long, membranous, apex truncate; blades 8–60 

cm long, 4–10 mm wide, glabrous, linear, flat, ascending, straight, 

margins smooth, apex attenuate. Panicles 10–50 cm long, open, 

lanceolate or ovate, dense or loose; primary branches bearing 

3–8 fertile spikelets, angular, scabrous. Spikelets 10–18 mm long, 

3–10-flowered, elliptic or oblong, laterally compressed; glumes 

3–7 mm long, 2; lemmas 6–9 mm long, awnless or awned, the 

awn up to 4 mm long. Habitat: introduced, weed of cultivation. 

Distribution: (Mm) temperate Eurasia.

159. Lolium multiflorum* Lam.

FIGURE 168

Lolium multiflorum* Lam., Fl. Franç. 3: 621. 1778. 

Common names: sammah, simbil; annual rye grass, Italian rye grass.

Caespitose annuals or short-lived perennials. Culms 

30–90 cm tall, erect, geniculate; internodes glabrous; butt 

sheaths glabrous. Leaves basal and cauline; sheaths glabrous, 

margins membranous; auricles clawlike; ligules 1–2 mm long, 

membranous, apex erose; blades 6–20 cm long, 4–8 mm wide, 

linear, flat, spreading, straight, scabrous, apex acuminate. Racemes 10–30 cm long, 2-sided, straight or slightly curved, stiff. 

FIGURE 167. Lolium arundinaceum. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, 

and blade. C. Inflorescence. D. Spikelet. A–C drawn from R. Kanal 

s.n. (US-3117694); D modified from Darbyshire (2007). 

FIGURE 166. Leptothrium senegalense. A. Habit. B. Ligule, 

sheath, and blade. C. Inflorescence. D. Two spikelets. A, C, D 

modified from Ibrahim and Kabuye (1988); B drawn from Olufsen 206 (US-1718603).
NUMBER 103 • 113

Spikelets 7.5–25 mm long, 11–22-flowered, oblong, laterally 

compressed,with a single glume; glumes 5–18 mm long; lemmas 

4–8.2 mm long, awns 5–10 mm long, straight, scabrous. Habitat: introduced, a weed of lawns. Distribution: (Mm, Ms, Nv, Di, 

Ol, Ra) C and S Europe, NW Africa, and SW Asia.

160. Lolium perenne* L.

FIGURE 169

Lolium perenne* L., Sp. Pl. 1: 83. 1753. 

Common names: gazoon, hasheesh el faras, nuseil; perennial rye 

grass.

Caespitose perennials. Culms 30–60 cm tall, erect, geniculate; 

internodes glabrous; butt sheaths glabrous. Leaves basal and cauline; sheaths glabrous, margins smooth; collar dark; auricles clawlike; ligules 1–2.5 mm long, membranous, apex truncate; blades 

3–20 cm long, 2–4 mm wide, linear; flat, spreading, straight, 

scabrous, apex acute. Racemes 4–30 cm long, 2-sided, straight or 

slightly curved, stiff. Spikelets 7–20 mm long, 3–10(–14)-flowered, 

oblong, laterally compressed, appressed, with a single glume; 

glumes 3–15 mm long; lemmas 3.5–9 mm long, awnless. Habitat: 

introduced, a weed of lawns. Distribution: (Mm, Ms, Nv, Dg, Di, 

Ol, On, S) N Africa and temperate Asia.

161. Lolium rigidum Gaudin

FIGURE 170

Lolium rigidum Gaudin, Agrost. Helv. 1: 334. 1811. 

Common names: sammah; annual rye grass, Swiss rye grass.

Caespitose annuals. Culms 20–80 cm tall, erect, geniculate; 

internodes glabrous, glossy; butt sheaths glabrous. Leaves basal 

and cauline; sheaths, ribbed, glabrous, margins membranous; 

FIGURE 169. Lolium perenne. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and 

blade. C. Spikelet. A, B drawn from L. B. Smith 5091 (US-2151147); 

C modified from Terrell (2007).

FIGURE 168. Lolium multiflorum. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and 

blade. C. Inflorescence. D. Spikelet. A–C drawn from R. Kanal 260

(US-3214594); D modified from Hitchcock (1951).
114 • SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO BOTANY

auricles clawlike or absent; ligules 1–2 mm long, membranous, 

apex dentate; blades 4–20 cm long, 0.5–2 mm wide, linear, flat 

or conduplicate, spreading, straight, scabrous or smooth, apex 

acuminate. Racemes 3–30 cm long, 2-sided, straight or arcuate, 

bearing 2–19 fertile sunken spikelets. Spikelets 5–18 mm long, 

1–3 mm wide, 5–11-flowered, oblong, laterally compressed, with 

a single glume; glumes 4–20(–30) mm long; lemmas 3.2–10 mm 

long, awnless or awned, the awn up to 3 mm long, straight. Habitat: introduced, weed of cultivation. Distribution: (Mm, Ms, Nv, 

Di, Ol, S) S Europe, Mediterranean region to C Asia.

162. Lolium temulentum* L.

FIGURE 171

Lolium temulentum* L., Sp. Pl. 1: 83. 1753. 

Common names: zawaan, zo-aan; darnel ryegrass.

Caespitose annuals. Culms 20–100 cm tall, erect, geniculate, glabrous; butt sheaths glabrous. Leaves basal and cauline; 

sheaths glabrous, margins smooth; auricles clawlike; ligules 

1–2 mm long, membranous, apex acute; blades 6–35 cm long, 

2–10 mm wide, scabrous, apex attenuate. Racemes 10–30 cm 

long, 2-sided, erect, rigid. Spikelets 12–26 mm long, and 4–6 mm 

wide, 4–10-flowered, oblong, laterally compressed, breaking up 

at maturity, with a single glume; glumes 7–30 mm long; lemmas 

4.5–8.5 mm long principal lemmas unawned or awned, the awns 

up to 20 mm long, straight. Habitat: introduced weed. Distribution: (Mm, Ms, Nv, Nn, Di, Ol,) Mediterranean, SW Asia, 

introduced in Europe.

FIGURE 171. Lolium temulentum. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, 

and blade. C. Inflorescence. D. Two spikelets. A, C drawn from

M. Imam & J. Kosinova s.n. (CAI); B, D drawn from A. T. Semple 

272 (US-2012605).

FIGURE 170. Lolium rigidum. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and 

blade. C. Segment of the inflorescence. D. Spikelet. A drawn from 

M. Abd El-Ghani 2510 (CAI); B–D drawn from G. Davidse 33455

(US-3596278).
NUMBER 103 • 115

163. Lygeum spartum L.

FIGURE 172

Lygeum spartum L., Gen. Pl., ed. 5: 522. 1754. 

Common names: halfa; false esparto grass.

Caespitose perennials; rhizomes short and scaly. Culms 

30–90 cm tall, erect, wiry, covered at the base by brown glossy 

coriaceous scales; internodes glabrous; butt sheaths glabrous. 

Leaves basal and cauline; sheaths glabrous, margins smooth; ligules 6–8 mm long, membranous, apex acute; blades 5–20 cm 

long, 1–2 mm wide, filiform, revolute, ascending, appressed, 

straight, scabrous, apex attenuate. Panicles 3–5 cm long, 1-sided, 

included in the sheath, spatheole lanceolate. Spikelets 30–45 mm 

long, ovate, laterally compressed; lemmas 20–30 mm long, villous, the hairs 10–15 mm long, awnless. Habitat: rocky slopes 

and sandy soils often derived from calcareous substrates. Distribution: (Mm, Ms) Mediterranean region.

164. Megathyrsus maximus (Jacq.) 

B. K. Simon & S. W. L. Jacobs

FIGURE 173

Megathyrsus maximus (Jacq.) B. K. Simon & S. W. L. Jacobs, 

Austrobaileya 6(3): 572. 2003. [Panicum maximum Jacq., 

Icon. Pl. Rar. 1: 2, pl. 13. 1781.] 

Common names: hashish el genieh; guinea grass.

Loosely or densely caespitose perennials; rhizomes short. 

Culms up to 200 cm tall, erect, geniculate, robust; internodes glabrous; often lower nodes rooting; butt sheaths pubescent. Leaves 

basal and cauline; sheaths scabrous, margins scabrous; oral 

hairs present; ligules 1–2 mm long, ciliate membranes; blades 

10–40 cm long, 4–30 mm wide, linear, flat, spreading, flaccid, 

glabrous, scabrous or pilose, margins smooth, apex acuminate. 

FIGURE 172. Lygeum spartum. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and 

blade. C. Inflorescence composed of a single spikelet. D. Two 

lemmas. A drawn from T. Cope, G. Fahmy, I. El Garf 242

(CAI), V. Täckholm s.n. (CAI); B–D drawn from Fairchild 199 

(US-1258695).

FIGURE 173. Megathyrsus maximus. A. Culm. B. Ligule, sheath, 

and blade. C. Inflorescence. D. Spikelets with upper (right) and 

lower (left) glumes. A, C modified from Ibrahim and Kabuye (1988); 

B drawn from L. J. Brass 18023 (US-2044653); D modified from 

Hitchcock (1951).
116 • SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO BOTANY

Panicles 12–45(–60) cm long, open, oblong or pyramidal. Spikelets (2.5–)3–4.5(–5) mm long, oblong, dorsally compressed, falling entire, apex obtuse or acute; lemmas awnless. Habitat: canal 

banks, waste places, and cultivated. Distribution: (Nv) tropical 

and S Africa.

165. Melanocenchris abyssinica (R. Br. ex 

Fresen.) Hochst.

FIGURE 174

Melanocenchris abyssinica (R. Br. ex Fresen.) Hochst., Flora 38: 

274. 1855. 

Common name: teiraab.

Caespitose annuals. Culms 10–20 cm tall, erect, geniculate, glabrous; butt sheaths glabrous. Leaves mostly basal; 

sheaths hairy, margins membranous; oral hairs present; ligule 

a fringe of hairs; blades 1–5 cm long, 0.5–1 mm wide, filiform, 

flat or conduplicate, ascending, straight, scaberulous, margins 

tuberculate-ciliate, apex acuminate. Racemes 1–1.5 cm long, 

3–5(–6) borne along a central axis, distant, spreading, cuneate, unilateral, bearing few fertile spikelets. Spikelets 7–9 mm 

long, appressed, cuneate, dorsally compressed; glumes 3 mm 

long, 1-awned; lemmas chartaceous, 3-awned, the central awn 

up to 3 mm long, straight, bristlelike. Habitat: sandy plains 

and wadi beds. Distribution: (Ge) NE Africa through Arabia 

to NW India.

166. Melica persica Kunth

FIGURE 175

Melica persica Kunth, Révis. Gramin. 1: 122, 351, t. 89. 1830. 

Caespitose perennials; rhizomes elongated. Culms 15–50 cm 

tall, erect, geniculate, weak; internodes glabrous; butt sheaths 

glabrous. Leaves basal and cauline; sheaths tubular for much 

of their length, ribbed, glabrous or densely retrorse-pubescent, 

margins smooth; ligules 1–3 mm long, membranous, apex 

acute, lacerate; blades 5–10 cm long, 1–2 mm wide, linear, flat, 

spreading, flaccid, glabrous or densely retrorse-pubescent, margins scabrous, apex acute. Panicles 3.5–12 cm long, spiciform, 

linear, equilateral or secund. Spikelets 5.5–10 mm long, cuneate, laterally compressed; lower fertile lemmas 4–7.5 mm long, 

7–9-veined, pilose with tubercle-based hairs, awnless. Habitat: 

rocky slopes. Distribution: (S) E Mediterranean region, SW Asia 

to Pakistan.

KEY TO THE SUBSPECIES

1a. Leaf sheaths and blades glabrous . . . . . . M. persica subsp. inaequiglumis (Boiss.) Bor, Fl. Iranica 70/30(1): 255. 1970

1b. Leaf sheaths and blades densely retrorse-pubescent 

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  M. persica subsp. canescens (Regel) P. H. D

FIGURE 174. Melanocenchris abyssinica. A. Habit. B. Ligule, 

sheath, and blade. C. Spikelet. A drawn from V. Täckholm, M. Kassas, H. Fawzy, F. Shalabi, M. Zahran s.n. (CAI); B, C drawn from A. 

Pappi s.n. (US-1984367).
NUMBER 103 • 117

167. Melinis minutiflora* P. Beauv.

FIGURE 176

Melinis minutiflora* P. Beauv., Ess. Agrostogr. 54, pl. 11, f. 454. 

1812.

Common name: molasses grass.

Caespitose perennials, often matted, aromatic. Culms up to 

100 cm tall, erect, geniculate, glabrous; butt sheaths glabrous. 

Leaves basal and cauline; sheaths tomentose, viscid, often smelling of linseed oil, margins scabrous; oral hairs present; ligule a 

fringe of hairs; blades 5–20 cm long, 2–8 mm wide, linear, flat, 

ascending, straight, pilose, margins scabrous, apex acute. Panicles 

10–30 cm long, open, oblong; dense. Spikelets 1.5–2(–2.4) mm 

long, oblong, slightly laterally compressed, falling entire; lemmas awnless or awned, the awns up to 15 mm long. Habitat: 

cultivated areas, introduced. Distribution: (Nv) native of tropical 

Africa, widely grown as a fodder grass.

168. Melinis repens* (Willd.) Zizka

FIGURE 177

Melinis repens* (Willd.) Zizka, Biblioth. Bot. 138: 55. 1988. 

Common name: natal grass.

Caespitose annuals or short-lived perennials. Culms up to 

150 cm tall, erect, geniculate; internodes glabrous; lower nodes 

rooting; butt sheaths glabrous. Leaves basal and cauline; sheaths 

FIGURE 176. Melinis minutiflora. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and 

blade. C. Inflorescence. D. Spikelet. A–D drawn from S. L. Hatch 

4195a (US-3626783).

FIGURE 175. Melica persica. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and blade. 

C. Spikelet. A drawn from V. Täckholm, M. Kassas, N. El Hadidi 

243; B drawn from K. H. Rechinger 1142 (US-2042109); C modified from Cope (2005).
118 • SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO BOTANY

hairy, margins sparsely hairy; ligule a fringe of hairs; blades 

5–25 cm long, 1–4 mm wide, linear, conduplicate, spreading, 

straight, glabrous, margins scabrous, apex attenuate. Panicles 5–20 cm long, open, oblong or ovate; branches capillary. 

Spikelets 5–12 mm long, ovate, laterally compressed; glumes mucronate or awned, the awns 1–7 mm long; lemmas unawned or 

with awns up to 7 mm long, straight. Habitat: cultivated areas 

and roadsides. Distribution: (Nv) Africa.

KEY TO THE SUBSPECIES

1a. Spikelets 2–5 mm long; internodes between the glumes 0.1–0.7 mm long  . . . . . . . . . . . 

1b. Spikelets 5–12 mm long; internodes between the glumes usually 0.7–1.7 mm long 

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  M. rep

169. Miscanthus sinensis* Andersson

FIGURE 178

Miscanthus sinensis* Andersson, Öfvers. Förh. Kongl. Svenska 

Vetensk.-Akad. 12: 166. 1855. 

Common names: Chinese silver grass, eulalia.

Caespitose perennials; rhizomes short. Culms up to 300 cm 

tall, erect, geniculate; internodes glabrous; butt sheaths glabrous. 

Leaves basal and cauline; sheaths ribbed, glabrous, margins 

smooth; oral hairs present; ligules 1–2 mm long, ciliate membranes; 

blades 50–100 cm long, 10–20 mm wide, linear, flat, spreading, 

straight, scabrous, apex acute. Inflorescences 10–40 cm long, with 

4–40 digitately arranged branches, the branches up to 20 cm long, 

drooping or ascending. Spikelets 4.5–7 mm long, in pairs, lanceolate, dorsally compressed; callus hairs 5–7 mm long, silvery; upper 

lemma awns 6–12 mm long, geniculate, column twisted. Habitat: 

cultivated, ornamental. Distribution: (N) native of E and SE Asia.

FIGURE 177. Melinis repens. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and blade. 

C. Inflorescence. D. Spikelet. A drawn from R. Halwagy 119 (CAI); 

B–D drawn from M. M. Hochobes & D. Lutombi WIND91911.0

(US-3600188).
NUMBER 103 • 119

170. Moorochloa eruciformis (Sm.) Veldkamp

FIGURE 179

Moorochloa eruciformis (Sm.) Veldkamp, Reinwardtia 12(2): 

139. 2004. [Brachiaria eruciformis (Sm.) Griseb.; Panicum 

eruciforme Sm.] 

Common name: sweet signalgrass.

Caespitose annuals. Culms 15–60 cm tall, decumbent; 

nodes bearded; internodes glossy, semiterete; butt sheaths glabrous. Leaves mostly cauline; sheaths longer than the blades, 

hairy, margins hairy; ligules 1 mm long, a fringe of hairs; blades 

2–20 cm long, 5–20 mm wide, linear to narrowly lanceolate, flat, 

spreading, sparsely hairy, margins ciliate, apex acute. Racemes 

0.5–2.5 cm long, 3–14 borne along a central axis, unilateral; 

central inflorescence axis 1–8 cm long, rachis wingless, angular. 

Spikelets 1.7–2.7 mm long, elliptic, dorsally compressed; lemmas 

awnless. Habitat: damp grasslands and a weed in cultivated 

areas. Distribution: (Nv, Nn, Ol, On, S) Mediterranean region 

to S Africa and India.

171. Oloptum miliaceum (L.) 

Röser & H. R. Hamasha

FIGURE 180

Oloptum miliaceum (L.) Röser & H. R. Hamasha, Pl. Syst. Evol. 

298: 365. 2012. [Piptatherum miliaceum (L.) Coss.; Achnatherum miliaceum (L.) P. Beauv.; Oryzopsis miliacea (L.) 

Asch. & Schweinf.; Agrostis miliacea L.]

Common names: hemri, homaar; smilo grass.

FIGURE 179. Moorochloa eruciformis. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, 

and blade. C. Spikelets with lower (right) and upper (left) glumes. A 

modified from Ibrahim and Kabuye (1988); B drawn from P. J. Greenway 9783 (US-2433025); C modified from Wipff and Thompson 

(2003b).

FIGURE 178. Miscanthus sinensis. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and 

blade. C. Spikelet. A, B drawn from R. Kanal 093 (US-3075146); C 

modified from Hitchcock (1951).
120 • SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO BOTANY

Caespitose perennials. Culms 60–100 cm tall, wiry, erect, 

glabrous; butt sheaths glabrous. Leaves basal and cauline, 

sheaths glabrous, margins smooth; collars ciliate; ligules 1–2 mm 

long, membranous, pubescent, apex erose; blades 10–30 cm 

long, 4–8 mm wide, linear, flat, spreading, straight, ribbed, scabrous, margins scabrous, apex acuminate. Panicles 20–40 cm 

long, open, ovate. Spikelets 3 mm long, elliptic, dorsally compressed; callus hairy; lemmas 1.5–2 mm long, glabrous, awns 

3–5 mm long, straight, bristlelike. Habitat: aquatic and sandy 

habitats. Distribution: (Mm, Ms, Nv, Dg, Di, S) Mediterranean 

region and SW Asia.

172. Oryza sativa* L.

FIGURE 181

Oryza sativa* L., Sp. Pl. 1: 333. 1753. 

Common names: rozz; rice.

Caespitose annuals. Culms up to 150 cm tall, erect, geniculate; internodes glabrous; butt sheaths glabrous. Leaves basal 

and cauline; sheaths flattened, ribbed, glabrous, margins smooth; 

auricles clawlike, erect; ligules up to 10 mm long, membranous, 

apex lacerate, acute; blades 10–50 cm long, 4–10 mm wide, linear, flat, spreading, straight, scaberulous, glabrous or pubescent, 

margins scabrous, apex acuminate. Panicles 20–50 cm long, 

lanceolate, equilateral or nodding. Spikelets 8–11 mm long, 

FIGURE 180. Oloptum miliaceum. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and 

blade. C. Inflorescence. D. Spikelet. A drawn from G. Täckholm 

s.n. (CAI); B, D drawn from G. Schweinfurth 1717 (US-823173); 

C drawn from A. Amer 8944 (CAI).

FIGURE 181. Oryza sativa. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and blade. 

C. Spikelet. A drawn from El Hadidi s.n. (CAI), Ibrahim and Kabuye 

(1988); B, C drawn from P. Taylor 9367 (US-2461385).
NUMBER 103 • 121

2.5–3.5 mm wide, elliptic or oblong, laterally compressed; lemmas unawned or awned, the awns up to 16 mm long; anthers 6. 

Habitat: cultivated. Distribution: (Mm, Ms, Nv, Ol) warm temperate regions.

173. Panicum antidotale Retz.

FIGURE 182

Panicum antidotale Retz., Observ. Bot. 4: 17. 1786. 

Common names: blue panic grass, giant blue panic grass.

Caespitose perennials; rhizomes short; rootstock woody. 

Culms up to 180 cm tall, erect; nodes swollen; lower internodes hirsute; butt sheaths pubescent. Leaves basal and cauline; 

sheaths glabrous, margins membranous; collars dark; ligules 

0.5–1 mm long, a fringe of hairs; blades 6–25 cm long, 2–10 mm 

wide, linear, flat, ascending, straight, scabrous, apex attenuate. 

Panicles 13–32 cm long, oblong to ovate or pyramidal, open 

to contracted near the primary branches. Spikelets 2.4–3.2 mm 

long, elliptic, dorsally compressed, apex acute; lemmas awnless. 

Habitat: dry grasslands derived from calcareous parent materials and roadsides. Distribution: (Mm, Nv, Ra) tropical Africa 

to India.

174. Panicum coloratum L.

FIGURE 183

Panicum coloratum L., Mant. Pl. 1: 30. 1767. 

Common names: shawash; colored guinea grass.

FIGURE 182. Panicum antidotale. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and 

blade. C. Inflorescence. D. Spikelets with lower (left) and upper 

(right) glumes. A drawn from M. Kassas s.n. (CAI); B, C drawn from 

F. Starr 020201-1 (US-3437456): D modified from Freckman and 

Lelong (2003).

FIGURE 183. Panicum coloratum. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and 

blade. C. Spikelets with lower (left) and upper (right) glumes. D. Inflorescence. A drawn from N. El Hadidi s.n. (CAI); B, D drawn 

from W. L. Watt 16 (US-1389381); C modified from Freckman and 

Lelong (2003).
122 • SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO BOTANY

Caespitose perennials. Culms up to 100 cm tall, erect, often 

with swollen bases; internodes glabrous; butt sheaths persistent, 

glabrous. Leaves basal and cauline; sheaths ribbed, sparsely 

hairy, margins hairy; oral hairs present; ligules 1–2 mm long, 

ciliate membrane; blades 10–30 cm long, 4–10 mm wide, linear, flat, spreading, flaccid, glabrous or pilose, margins cartilaginous, bases broadly rounded or cordate, apex acute. Panicles 

4–30(–40) cm long, open, oblong. Spikelets 2–3 mm long, ovate, 

dorsally compressed, apex obtuse, acute or acuminate; lemmas 

awnless. Habitat: canal banks, stream banks, and gardens. Distribution: (Mm, Ms, Nv, Di, Ol) tropical Africa and Arabia.

175. Panicum hygrocharis Steud.

FIGURE 184

Panicum hygrocharis Steud., Syn. Pl. Glumac. 1: 72. 1854.

Caespitose perennials; stolons sometimes present; rhizomes 

elongated. Culms up to 100 cm tall, erect, geniculate; internodes 

glabrous, spongy, ribbed; nodes bearded and sometimes rooting 

at lower nodes; butt sheaths persistent, glabrous. Leaves basal 

and cauline; sheaths ribbed, glabrous, margins smooth; ligules 

1–2 mm long, ciliate membranes; blades 5–10 cm long, 2–5 mm 

wide, linear, flat, distichous, spreading, flaccid, hairy on basal 1⁄3, 

margins crinkled, apex attenuate. Panicles 6–14 cm long, open, 

oblong or ovate. Spikelets 2.5–3 mm long, ovate, dorsally compressed, apex acuminate; lemmas awnless. Habitat: canal banks 

and gardens. Distribution: (Mm) tropical E and S Africa.

176. Panicum miliaceum* L.

FIGURE 185

Panicum miliaceum* L., Sp. Pl. 1: 58. 1753.

Common names: dokhn; broomcorn millet, proso millet.

Caespitose annuals. Culms up to 100 cm tall, erect; robust; internodes hirsute; nodes bearded; butt sheaths persistent, 

FIGURE 184. Panicum hygrocharis. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and 

blade. C. Inflorescence. D. Spikelet. A drawn from R. Halwagy 114

(CAI); B, C drawn from J. Ash s.n. (US-2837115); D modified from 

Ibrahim and Kabuye (1988).

FIGURE 185. Panicum miliaceum. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and 

blade. C. Inflorescence. D. Spikelets with upper (left) and lower 

(right) glumes. A–C drawn from E. S. Steele s.n. (US-494805); 

D modified from Hitchcock (1951).
NUMBER 103 • 123

glabrous. Leaves basal and cauline; sheaths, ribbed, hairy, margins hairy; oral hairs present; ligules 1–2 mm long, ciliate membrane; blades 10–20 cm long, 5–15 mm wide, linear-lanceolate, 

flat, spreading, flaccid, glabrous or sparsely hairy, margins wavy, 

pubescent, apex acute. Panicles 5–10(–20) cm long, contracted, 

obovate, nodding. Spikelets 4.5–5 mm long, elliptic or ovate, 

dorsally compressed; lemmas awnless. Habitat: cultivated and a 

weed. Distribution: (Mm, Nv) India and warm temperate regions.

177. Panicum repens L.

FIGURE 186

Panicum repens L., Sp. Pl., ed. 2, 1: 87. 1762. 

Common names: negil dakar, neseela na’am, nigeel farisi, qeseiba; 

panic rampant, torpedo grass.

Caespitose perennials; rhizomes elongated; stolons sometimes present. Culms up to 100 cm tall, erect, often with swollen bulb-like base, glabrous; butt sheaths pubescent. Leaves 

distichous, basal and cauline; sheaths flattened, sparsely hairy,

margins woolly at least when young; oral hairs present; ligules 

1–2 mm long, ciliate membranes; blades 5–20 cm long, 2–6 mm 

wide, linear, flat or revolute, spreading, stiff, coriaceous, hairy, 

margins ciliate, apex attenuate and spiny, pungent. Panicles 

5–20 cm long, open, oblong. Spikelets 2.5–3 mm long, ovate, 

dorsally compressed, apex acute; lemmas awnless. Habitat: 

aquatic sites and coastal sand. Distribution: (Mm, Ms, Nv, Nn, 

Dg, Di, Ol, On) tropics and subtropics.

178. Panicum turgidum Forssk.

FIGURE 187

Panicum turgidum Forssk., Fl. Aegypt.-Arab.: 18. 1775.

Common name: thammam, thommam.

FIGURE 187. Panicum turgidum. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and 

blade. C. Spikelet. A drawn from V. Täckholm 644 (CAI); B, C 

drawn from G. Schweinfurth 84 (US-823864).

FIGURE 186. Panicum repens. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and 

blade. C. Inflorescence. D. Spikelets with upper (right) and lower 

(left) glumes. A drawn from J. Osborn & I. Helmy s.n. (CAI); B, 

C drawn from A. C. Thomas 861 (US-1538900); D modified from 

Freckman and Lelong (2003).
124 • SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO BOTANY

Caespitose perennial forming rounded bushes; rhizomes 

elongated. Culms up to 100 cm tall, solid, woody, erect, tough, 

ribbed; internodes glabrous; nodes dark; butt sheaths sparsely 

hairy. Leaves distichous, glaucous, basal and cauline; sheaths 

much longer than blades, overlapping, ribbed, glabrous, margins 

membranous; oral hairs present; ligule a ciliate membrane; blades 

2–15 cm long, 1–6 mm wide, linear-lanceolate, convolute, spreading, stiff, coriaceous, glabrous, margins smooth, apex spiny, pungent. Panicles 2.5–15(–30) cm long, open, pyramidal, contracted. 

Spikelets (3.1–)3.4–4.5(–5) mm long, ovate, dorsally compressed, 

falling entire, apex acute or acuminate; lemmas awnless. Habitat: 

sandy soils. Distribution: (Mm, Ms, Nv, Nn, Dl, Dg, Da, Di, Ol, 

On, S, Ra, Ge) N and NE Africa and SW Asia.

179. Parapholis filiformis (Roth) C. E. Hubb.

FIGURE 188

Parapholis filiformis (Roth) C. E. Hubb., Blumea, Suppl. 3: 14. 

1946.

Caespitose annuals. Culms 5–20 cm tall, erect, geniculate, 

weak, wiry; internodes glabrous; butt sheaths glabrous. Leaves 

basal and cauline; sheaths longer than adjacent internodes, flattened, glabrous, margins membranous; ligules 1–2 mm long, 

membranous, apex erose; blades 3–15 cm long, 1–2 mm wide, 

linear, convolute, appressed, straight, ribbed, scaberulous, margins smooth, apex acuminate. Racemes 5–10 cm long, solitary, 

bearing 10–20 fertile spikelets on each node, ragged or smooth, 

bilateral. Spikelets 4–6 mm long, embedded in rachis, oblong, 

laterally compressed; lemmas awnless; anthers 3.5–4 mm long. 

Habitat: sandy areas. Distribution: (Nn? or Nv?) Mediterranean.

180. Parapholis incurva (L.) C. E. Hubb.

FIGURE 189

Parapholis incurva (L.) C. E. Hubb., Blumea, Suppl. 3: 14. 1946. 

Common names: imzein, timzein; coast barbgrass, curly barbgrass, curved sea grass, sicklegrass.

Caespitose annuals. Culms 2–20 cm tall, erect or prostrate, 

geniculate, rigid; internodes glabrous; butt sheaths glabrous. 

FIGURE 189. Parapholis incurva. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and 

blade. C. Spikelets. A drawn from I. Garf s.n. (CAI); B, C drawn 

from Calvas (US-204931).

FIGURE 188. Parapholis filiformis. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and 

blade. C. Spikelets. A drawn from H. Leking 298 (CAI); B, C drawn 

from G. C. Joad (US-153537).
NUMBER 103 • 125

Leaves basal and cauline; sheaths flattened and inflated above, 

glabrous, margins smooth; ligules 0.5–1 mm long, membranous, 

apex erose; blades 1–3 cm long, 0.5–10 mm wide, linear, involute, 

spreading, straight, scabrous, margins smooth, apex acuminate. 

Racemes 1–8 cm long, single, 1-sided or curved, terminal, smooth, 

bilateral. Spikelets 4–6 mm long, embedded in rachis, spatheate, 

oblong, laterally compressed; lemmas awnless; anthers 0.5–0.9 

mm long. Habitat: sand dunes usually near the coast. Distribution: 

(Mm, Ms, Nv, Di, Ol) W Europe, Mediterranean, and SW Asia.

181. Parapholis marginata Runemark

FIGURE 190

Parapholis marginata Runemark, Bot. Not. 115: 8, 14. 1962.

Caespitose annuals. Culms 5–15 cm tall, erect, geniculate, 

weak; internodes glabrous; butt sheaths glabrous. Leaves basal 

and cauline; uppermost sheaths flattened and inflated, ribbed,

glabrous, margins smooth; ligules 1–2 mm long, membranous, 

apex erose; blades 3–15 cm long, 1–2 mm wide, linear, convolute, 

spreading, straight, ribbed, scaberulous, margins smooth, apex 

attenuate-filiform. Racemes 3–15 cm long, 1–2 mm wide, solitary, bilateral, bearing 5–10 fertile spikelets. Spikelets 4–6 mm 

long, appressed, oblong, laterally compressed; lemmas awnless; 

anthers 0.5–0.8 mm long. Habitat: sandy and stony soils. Distribution: (Mm, Ms, Nv, Dg) E Mediterranean region.

182. Paspalum dilatatum* Poir.

FIGURE 191

Paspalum dilatatum* Poir., Encycl. 5: 35. 1804. 

Common names: caterpillar grass, dallis grass, golden crown grass.

Caespitose perennials. Culms 30–180 cm tall, robust, erect; 

internodes glabrous; occasionally lower nodes rooting; butt 

sheaths glabrous. Leaves basal and cauline; sheaths overlapping, 

FIGURE 191. Paspalum dilatatum. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and 

blade. C. Spikelet with upper glume. A, B drawn from E. F. Wells 

& R. L. Brown 4192 (US-3418174); C modified from Hitchcock 

(1951).

FIGURE 190. Parapholis marginata. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, 

and blade. C. Two spikelets. A drawn from M. Hilli s.n. (CAI); B, C 

drawn from K. H. Rechinger 14023 (US-1936765).
126 • SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO BOTANY

glabrous or sparsely hairy, margins smooth; oral hairs present; collars dark; ligules 3 mm long, membranous, apex truncate; blades 

5–55 cm long, 3–10 mm wide, linear, flat, spreading, scabrous, 

margins scabrous, apex acuminate. Racemes 1.5–3 cm long, 

(2–)3–5(–11) digitately borne along a central axis, unilateral. 

Spikelets 2.7–3.8 mm long, ovate, dorsally compressed, planoconvex, apex acute; upper glumes with a ciliate margin; lemmas awnless. Habitat: introduced. Distribution: (Nv) native to 

S America.

183. Paspalum distichum L.

FIGURE 192

Paspalum distichum L., Syst. Nat., ed. 10, 2: 855. 1759. 

Common names: hasheesh abu khosa, moddeid; knotgrass, 

water couch.

Mat-forming perennials; stolons present. Culms 5–50 cm 

tall, decumbent; internodes scabrous; sometimes lower nodes 

rooting; butt sheaths glabrous. Leaves basal and cauline; sheaths 

glabrous, margins smooth; collars dark colored; auricles acute; ligules 1–2 mm long, membranous, apex erose; blades 3–10 cm long, 

2–6 mm wide, linear, flat, spreading, reflexed, scabrous, ribbed, 

margins scabrous, apex acuminate. Racemes 2–8 cm long, 2(–4) 

digitately borne along central axis in 2 rows on a winged rachis, 

unilateral. Spikelets (2.5–)3–4 mm long, ovate, dorsally compressed, turgidly plano-convex, apex acute; upper glumes without 

ciliate margins; lemmas awnless. Habitat: aquatic and moist sites. 

Distribution: (Ms, Nv, Nn, Di, Ol, On) tropics and subtropics.

184. Paspalum racemosum* Lam.

FIGURE 193

Paspalum racemosum* Lam., Tabl. Encycl. 1: 176. 1791. 

Common name: Peruvian paspalum.

FIGURE 193. Paspalum racemosum. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, 

and blade. C. Spikelet showing lower glume. A drawn from Ezz el 

Din s.n. (CAI); B drawn from A. Goeldi (US-1024756); C modified 

from Allen and Hall (2003).

FIGURE 192. Paspalum distichum. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and 

blade. C. Segment of inflorescence. D. Spikelet. A–D drawn from 

P. A. Schafer 8622 (US-3399261).
NUMBER 103 • 127

Caespitose annuals. Culms 5–50 cm tall, decumbent; internodes scabrous; occasionally lower nodes rooting; butt sheaths 

glabrous. Leaves basal and cauline; sheaths glabrous, margins 

smooth; oral hairs present; ligules 2 mm long, membranous, 

apex truncate; blades 5–12 cm long, 10–20 mm wide, flaccid, ascending, lanceolate or elliptic, flat, scabrous, margins scabrous, 

base cordate, apex acuminate. Racemes 0.5–2 cm long, numerous, closely spaced, unilateral, racemosely borne along a central 

axis. Spikelets 2.5–3.2 mm long, ovate, dorsally compressed, 

plano-convex, apex obtuse; upper glumes without ciliate margins; lemmas awnless. Habitat: disturbed sites, introduced. Distribution: (Nv) native to S America.

185. Phalaris aquatica* L.

FIGURE 194

Phalaris aquatica* L., Cent. Pl. I 4. 1755. 

Common name: harding grass.

Caespitose perennials; rhizomes short. Culms erect up to 150 

cm tall, often with swollen pseudocorms at the bases; internodes 

glabrous; butt sheaths glabrous. Leaves basal and cauline; sheaths 

glabrous, margins membranous; ligules 2–4 mm long, membranous, apex erose; blades 5–25 cm long, 2–8 mm wide, linear-lanceolate, flat, spreading, flaccid, scabrous, margins smooth, apex 

acute. Panicles 1.5–11 cm long, 1–2.5 cm wide, spiciform, oblong. Spikelets 4.5–7.5 mm long, obovate, strongly laterally compressed; fertile lemma 3.1–4.6 mm long, awnless. Habitat: wet, 

disturbed sites, introduced. Distribution: (Mm) Mediterranean.

186. Phalaris arundinacea* L.

FIGURE 195

Phalaris arundinacea* L., Sp. Pl. 1: 55. 1753. 

Common name: canary grass.

Caespitose perennials; rhizomes elongate, scaly. Culms up to 

200 cm tall, erect, geniculate; internodes glabrous; butt sheaths 

FIGURE 195. Phalaris arundinacea. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and 

blade. C. Inflorescence. D. Spikelet. A–C drawn from R. Kanal 363

(US-3214567); D modified from Barkworth (2007).

FIGURE 194. Phalaris aquatica. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and 

blade. C. Inflorescence. D. Spikelet. A drawn from El Hadidi s.n.

(CAI); B, C drawn from J. Schröder s.n. (US-1445321); D modified 

from Barkworth (2007).
128 • SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO BOTANY

glabrous. Leaves basal and cauline; sheaths glabrous, margins 

smooth; ligules 6–10 mm, membranous, apex erose, truncate; 

blades 5–30 cm long, 4–15 mm wide, linear, flat, spreading, flaccid, scabrous, margins smooth, apex acute. Panicles 7–40 cm long, 

1–4 cm wide, contracted, linear, interrupted, compact. Spikelets 

3.5–7.5 mm long, ovate, laterally compressed; fertile lemmas 

2.5–4.2 mm long, awnless. Habitat: weed of cultivation and waste 

places. Distribution: (Nv) probably of horticultural origin.

187. Phalaris canariensis* L.

FIGURE 196

Phalaris canariensis* L., Sp. Pl. 1: 54–55. 1753. 

Common names: akl asfour, kanari hindi; canary grass.

Caespitose annuals. Culms 30–120 cm tall, erect, geniculate; 

internodes glabrous; nodes dark; butt sheaths glabrous. Leaves 

basal and cauline; sheaths flattened, glabrous, ribbed, margins 

smooth; ligules 6–10 mm long, membranous, apex erose; blades 

5–25 cm long, 2–10 mm wide, linear, flat, spreading, flaccid, 

scabrous, margins smooth, apex acute. Panicles 1.5–6 cm long, 

1.2–2.2 cm wide, compact, capitate. Spikelets 6–10 mm long, 

obovate, strongly laterally compressed; glume keels winged; fertile lemmas 4.5–6.8 mm long, awnless. Habitat: weed of cultivation, often introduced in bird seed. Distribution: (Mm, Nv) 

Mediterranean region.

188. Phalaris coerulescens Desf.

FIGURE 197

Phalaris coerulescens Desf., Fl. Atlant.1: 56. 1798. 

Common names: khabaa; sunolgrass.

Caespitose perennials. Culms up to 200 cm tall, erect, glabrous with swollen bases or pseudocorms; butt sheaths glabrous. 

FIGURE 197. Phalaris coerulescens. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, 

and blade. C. Inflorescence branch. D. Spikelet. A–D drawn from 

F. Lamson Scribner s.n. (US-745242).

FIGURE 196. Phalaris canariensis. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and 

blade. C. Inflorescence. D. Spikelet. A–C drawn from G. Vasey s.n. 

(US-979920); D modified from Hitchcock (1951).
NUMBER 103 • 129

Leaves basal and cauline; sheaths glabrous, margins smooth; collars broad; ligules 3–6 mm long, membranous, apex erose; blades 

5–25 cm long, 1–3 mm wide, linear-lanceolate, flat, spreading, flaccid, scabrous, apex acuminate. Panicles 3–11 cm long, 

1–2.3 cm wide, spiciform, linear or oblong. Spikelets 5.3–9 mm 

long, obovate, laterally compressed; glume keels winged; fertile 

lemmas 2.5–4.5 mm long, awnless. Habitat: damp soils and 

wadis. Distribution: (Di) Mediterranean region.

189. Phalaris minor Retz.

FIGURE 198

Phalaris minor Retz., Observ. Bot. 3: 8. 1783. 

Common names: ain el qott, kharfar, shaa’eer el far; small canary 

grass.

Caespitose annuals. Culms 10–100 cm tall, erect, geniculate; 

internodes glabrous; nodes dark; butt sheaths glabrous. Leaves 

basal and cauline; sheaths glabrous, ribbed, margins smooth; 

oral hairs present; collars dark; ligules 6–8 mm long, membranous, apex lacerate, truncate; blades 5–15 cm long, 3–10 mm 

wide, linear, flat, spreading, flaccid, scaberulous, apex acuminate. 

Panicles 1–6 cm long, 1–2 cm wide, spiciform or capitate, oblong 

or ovate, partially included in the sheath. Spikelets 4–6.5 mm 

long, elliptic, strongly laterally compressed; glume keels winged 

distally; fertile lemmas 2.7–4 mm long, awnless. Habitat: weed 

of cultivation and waste places, roadsides. Distribution: (Mm, 

Ms, Nv, Dl, Dg, Di, Ol, S) Mediterranean to NW India.

190. Phalaris paradoxa L.

FIGURE 199

Phalaris paradoxa L., Sp. Pl. 2: 1665. 1763.

Common names: sh’eer el far; hood canary grass.

FIGURE 199. Phalaris paradoxa. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and 

blade. C. Inflorescence branch. D. Spikelets, sterile (left) and fertile (right). A drawn from A. Amer s.n. (CAI); B, C drawn from

G. Schweinfurth 497 (US-824588); D modified from Barkworth 

(2007).

FIGURE 198. Phalaris minor. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and blade. 

C. Spikelet. A drawn from L. Boulos s.n. (CAI); B drawn from 

L. Arnow s.n. (US-2774275); C modified from Barkworth (2007).
130 • SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO BOTANY

Caespitose annuals. Culms 30–60 cm tall, erect, geniculate; 

internodes glabrous; nodes dark; butt sheaths glabrous. Leaves 

basal and cauline; sheaths glabrous, ribbed, margins smooth; 

oral hairs present; ligules 6–8 mm long, membranous, apex 

acute; blades 5–15 cm long, 2–5 mm wide, linear, flat, spreading, flaccid, glaucous, scabrous, margins smooth, apex acuminate. Panicles 4–10 cm long, 1.5–2.5 cm wide, erect, terminal, 

spiciform, subtended by inflated sheaths. Spikelets 7–8 mm long, 

ovate, laterally compressed; glumes winged with a toothlike projection near the middle; fertile lemmas 2.5–3.3 mm long, awnless. Habitat: moist places and weed of cultivation. Distribution: 

(Mm, Ms, Nv, Dl, Dg, Di, Ol, On) Mediterranean to NW India.

191. Phleum pratense* L.

FIGURE 200

Phleum pratense* L., Sp. Pl. 1: 59. 1753.

Common names: herd’s grass, timothy.

Caespitose perennials. Culms up to 150 cm tall, decumbent, 

sometimes swollen at the base; internodes glabrous; butt sheaths 

glabrous, dark brown. Leaves basal and cauline; sheaths glabrous, margins smooth; ligules 2–3 mm long, membranous, apex 

acute; blades 5–20 cm long, 2–8 mm wide, linear, flat, spreading, 

flaccid, scabrous, margins smooth, apex acute. Panicles (2–)6–

15(–30) cm long, 0.6–2 cm wide, spiciform, linear. Spikelets 3–4 

mm long, oblong, laterally compressed, apex truncate; glumes 

3–4 mm long, 1-awned, the awns 1–2 mm long, geniculate, column twisted; lemmas (1.2–)1.6–2 mm long, hairy, awnless. Habitat: introduced as a pasture grass. Distribution: (Nv) Europe.

192. Phleum subulatum* (Savi) Asch. & 

Graebn.

FIGURE 201

Phleum subulatum* (Savi) Asch. & Graebn., Syn. Mitteleur. Fl. 

2(1): 154. 1899.

Common names: deil el-qott; Italian timothy.

FIGURE 201. Phleum subulatum. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and 

blade. C. Spikelet. A–C drawn from M. Kalolimni 656 (US-785666), 

L. F. Morlon 2842 (US-2464353).

FIGURE 200. Phleum pratense. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and 

blade. C. Inflorescence. D. Spikelet. A–C drawn from H. A. Allard 

7801 (US-1813276); D modified from Hitchcock (1951).
NUMBER 103 • 131

Caespitose or solitary annuals. Culms 10–40 cm tall, decumbent, glabrous; butt sheaths glabrous. Leaves basal and cauline; 

sheaths glabrous, margins smooth; ligules 2–3 mm long, membranous, apex acute; blades 1–10 cm long, 1–3 mm wide, linear, flat, 

spreading, flaccid, glabrous, pilose or scaberulous, margins scabrous, bases truncate and rounded at the ends or tapering below, 

apex acuminate. Panicles 1–12 cm long, 0.3–0.9 cm wide, spiciform, linear. Spikelets (1.5–)2–4 mm long, elliptic, laterally compressed, apex truncate; glumes 2–4 mm long, awnless; lemmas 2⁄3

as long as the glumes, awnless. Habitat: introduced as a weed. Distribution: (S?) W and S Europe, Mediterranean region to Pakistan.

193. Phragmites australis (Cav.) Trin. ex Steud.

FIGURE 202

Phragmites australis (Cav.) Trin. ex Steud., Nomencl. Bot., ed. 

2, 1: 143. 1840.

Common names: boos khaba, ghab, hagna, qasab hegazi; common reed.

Caespitose perennials; rhizomes elongated; stolons present. 

Culms up to 600 cm tall, erect, straight, reed, woody or bamboolike, internodes glabrous; butt sheaths glabrous. Leaves cauline; 

sheaths glabrous, margins smooth; auricles rounded; oral hairs 

ciliate; ligules 1–1.5 mm long, ciliate membranes; blades 20–60 

cm long, 8–30 mm wide, linear-lanceolate, flat, spreading, glabrous, margins smooth, apex attenuate. Panicles 15–45 cm long, 

6–15(–20) cm wide, open, oblong, dense, feathery. Spikelets 

12–18 mm long, cuneate, laterally compressed; rachilla hairs 

(4–)6–10 mm long; lemmas 8–15 mm long, awnless. Habitat: 

moist places, along rivers and drainages. Distribution: (Mm, Ms, 

Nv, Nn, Dl, Dg, Dn, Di, Ol, S, Ra, Rq, Rz) temperate regions of 

the world.

KEY TO SUBSPECIES

1a. Culms up to 4 m tall; panicle 15–20(–30) cm long; upper glumes lanceolate, apex sharply acute or apiculate 

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

1b. Culms up to 6 m tall; panicles 30–45 cm long; upper glumes narrowly elliptic-oblong, apex obtuse to tridentate . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

FIGURE 202. Phragmites australis. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and 

blade. C. Inflorescence. D. Spikelet. A–C drawn from F. R. Fosberg 

24808 (US-2681778); D modified from Cope (2005).
132 • SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO BOTANY

194. Phragmites mauritianus* Kunth

FIGURE 203

Phragmites mauritianus* Kunth, Révis. Gramin. 1: 277, t. 50. 

1830. 

Common names: ghaab, ghaab reehi; reed grass.

Caespitose perennials; rhizomes elongated. Culms up to 

800 cm tall, erect, reed or woody, bamboo-like; internodes glabrous; butt sheaths glabrous. Leaves cauline; sheaths glabrous, 

margins smooth; collars dark colored; ligules 1–1.5 mm long, 

ciliate membranes; blades 20–70 cm long, 6–40 mm wide, linear-lanceolate, flat, spreading, scabrous, rough, margins smooth, 

apex attenuate-filiform. Panicles 30–50 cm long, 10–20 cm wide, 

open, oblong, dense. Spikelets 7–16 mm long, cuneate, laterally 

compressed; rachilla hairs 4–7 mm long; lemmas 8–9 mm long, 

awnless. Habitat: along water courses, introduced. Distribution: 

(Nv) tropical Africa.

195. Piptatherum holciforme (M. Bieb.) 

Roem. & Schult.

FIGURE 204

Piptatherum holciforme (M. Bieb.) Roem. & Schult., Syst. Veg. 

2: 328. 1817. [Oryzopsis holciformis (M. Bieb.) Hack.; 

Agrostis holciformis M. Bieb.] 

Common names: hemaar, hemri, reesh el hossein.

Caespitose perennials. Culms up to 100 cm tall, erect, wiry, 

glabrous; butt sheaths glabrous. Leaves basal and cauline; sheaths 

smooth or scaberulous, ribbed, margins membranous; ligules 

3–6 mm long, membranous, apex lacerate; blades 6–20 cm long, 

FIGURE 203. Phragmites mauritianus. A. Culm. B. Ligule, sheath, 

and blade. C. Inflorescence. D. Spikelet. A drawn from Drar 932

(CAI); B, C drawn from J. Rodin 4551 (US-1983606); D drawn 

from A. S. Hitchcock 24910 (US-1447072).

FIGURE 204. Piptatherum holciforme. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, 

and blade. C. Inflorescence. D. Floret. A drawn from N. El Hadidy, 

A. Hosny & Azza s.n. (CAI); B–D drawn from J. Bronmüller s.n. 

(US-1109224).
NUMBER 103 • 133

4–8 mm wide, linear, flat, convolute, spreading, straight, ribbed, 

scabrous, margins scabrous, apex filiform. Panicles 20–35 cm 

long, 12–24 cm wide, open, ovate, effuse. Spikelets 8–10(–12) 

mm long, elliptic, dorsally compressed; principal lemma awns 

8–13 mm long, straight, bristlelike. Habitat: stony slopes. Distribution: (S) Mediterranean region to SW Asia.

196. Poa annua L.

FIGURE 205

Poa annua L., Sp. Pl. 1: 68. 1753. 

Common names: annual bluegrass, annual meadow grass.

Caespitose annuals or short-lived perennials. Culms 3–20 cm 

tall, erect, geniculate or decumbent, rarely forming a corm; internodes glabrous; butt sheaths glabrous. Leaves basal and cauline; 

sheaths flattened, keeled, glabrous, margins smooth; ligules 1–3 

mm long, membranous, apex truncate, obtuse; blades 1–14 cm 

long, 1–3 mm wide, linear, flat, spreading, flaccid, glabrous, margins smooth, apex obtuse or abruptly acute. Panicles 1–12 cm 

long, open, pyramidal or ovate. Spikelets 3–10 mm long, oblong 

or ovate, laterally compressed; lemmas 2.5–4 mm long, awnless; 

anthers 0.6–0.8(–1) mm long. Habitat: weed of cultivation and 

pastures. Distribution: (Mm, Ms, Nv, Di, Ol) cosmopolitan.

197. Poa diaphora Trin.

FIGURE 206

Poa diaphora Trin., Mém. Acad. Imp. Sci. Saint-Pétersbourg, sér. 

6, Sci. Math., Seconde Pt. Sci. Nat. 4,2(1): 69–70. 1836. 

[Eremopoa altaica (Trin.) Roshev.] 

Common name: altai grass.

FIGURE 205. Poa annua. A. Habit. B. Leaf tip. C. Ligule, sheath, 

and blade. D. Inflorescence. E. Spikelet. A–D drawn from F. R. Fosberg 55144 (US-2681617); E modified from Soreng (2007).

FIGURE 206. Poa diaphora. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and blade. 

C. Spikelet. A–C drawn from J. Gay 1343 (US-914495).
134 • SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO BOTANY

Caespitose annuals. Culms 10–20 cm tall, erect, rough; internodes glabrous; butt sheaths glabrous. Leaves basal and cauline; sheaths longer than adjacent internodes, glabrous, margins 

smooth; ligules 1–3 mm long, membranous, apex lacerate; blades 

10–20 cm long, 3–10 mm wide, linear, flat, straight, spreading, 

scaberulous, margins cartilaginous, apex acuminate. Panicles 

7–18 cm long, 1–6 cm wide ovate or elliptic. Spikelets 4–6.5 mm 

long, laterally compressed; lemmas 2–4 mm long; awnless; anthers 0.4–0.6 mm long. Habitat: rocky slopes. Distribution: (S) 

SW and C Asia to Afghanistan.

198. Poa infirma Kunth

FIGURE 207

Poa infirma Kunth, Nov. Gen. Sp. 1: 158. 1816. 

Common name: early meadow grass.

Caespitose annuals. Culms 5–25 cm tall, erect, geniculate 

or decumbent, weak; internodes glabrous; butt sheaths glabrous. 

Leaves mostly basal; sheaths flattened, opened, surfaces glabrous, margins smooth; ligules 1–3 mm long, membranous, 

apex obtuse; blades 5–25 cm long, 2–8 mm wide, linear, flat, 

spreading, flaccid, glabrous, margins scabrous, apex hooded or 

abruptly acute. Panicles 0.5–10 cm long, open, lanceolate or 

ovate, dense or loose. Spikelets 2–4 mm long, oblong or ovate, 

laterally compressed; lemmas 2–2.5 mm long, awnless; anthers 

0.2–0.5 mm long. Habitat: moist meadows and weed of cultivation. Distribution: (Mm, Nv, Di) S Europe to northern India and 

SW Asia, introduced in America.

199. Poa persica Trin.

FIGURE 208

Poa persica Trin., Mém. Acad. Imp. Sci. Saint-Pétersbourg, sér. 6, 

Sci. Math. 1(4): 373. 1830. [Eremopoa persica (Trin.) Roshev.]

Caespitose annuals. Culms 5–50 cm tall, erect, geniculate; 

butt sheaths glabrous. Leaves basal and cauline; sheaths longer 

FIGURE 208. Poa persica. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and blade. C. 

Inflorescence. D. Spikelet. A drawn from N. Sankry s.n. (CAI); B–D 

drawn from J. Bornmuller (US-1127610, 127596).

FIGURE 207. Poa infirma. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and blade. 

C. Spikelet. A drawn from V. Täckholm s.n. (CAI); B, C drawn from

H. L. Shantz 25 (US-1090862).
NUMBER 103 • 135

than adjacent internodes, glabrous, ribbed, margins smooth; ligules 1–3 mm long, membranous, apex lacerate; blades 2–8 cm 

long, 1–2 mm wide linear, flat, flaccid, ascending, ribbed, scabrous, margins smooth, apex acute. Panicles 6–17 cm long, (1.5–)

3–5 cm wide, open, ovate. Spikelets 4–8.5 mm long, elliptic, laterally compressed; lemmas 3–3.5 mm long, mucronate, awnless; 

anthers 1.4–2.6 mm long. Habitat: sandy and stony soils. Distribution: (Mm) Mediterranean and tropical E Africa.

200. Poa sinaica Steud.

FIGURE 209

Poa sinaica Steud., Syn. Pl. Glumac. 1: 256. 1854. 

Common names: anse’a, sabal abu el hussein; Sinai meadow grass.

Caespitose perennials. Culms 10–60 cm tall, erect, geniculate, weak, base swollen; internodes glabrous; nodes dark; butt 

sheaths glabrous, the remains of old leaf sheaths form bulbous 

swelling. Leaves mostly basal; sheaths glabrous, ribbed, margins 

membranous; ligules 2–4 mm long, membranous, apex acute; 

blades 5–25 cm long, 2–8 mm wide, linear, conduplicate or involute, ascending, straight, scabrous, margins ciliate, apex abruptly 

acute. Panicles (3–)6–13 cm long, open, elliptic or oblong, 

dense. Spikelets 6–8 mm long, compressed, elliptic or oblong, 

laterally compressed; lemmas 3.5–5 mm long, awnless; anthers 

1.5–2.5 mm long. Habitat: desert slopes and weed of cultivation. 

Distribution: (Dg, Di, S) SW Asia to N India.

201. Pogonatherum paniceum* (Lam.) Hack.

FIGURE 210

Pogonatherum paniceum* (Lam.) Hack., Allg. Bot. Z. Syst. 12: 

178. 1906.

Common name: baby bamboo.

FIGURE 210. Pogonatherum paniceum. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, 

and blade. C. Spikelet. A drawn from M. Mahdi s.n. (CAI); B, C 

drawn from I. S. Collenett 7299 (K-H.2012/00899-11).

FIGURE 209. Poa sinaica. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and blade. 

C. Spikelet. A drawn from N. Sincari s.n. (CAI); B, C drawn from 

J. C. Archibald 1751 (US-3003842), L. E. Long 368 (US-2209744).
136 • SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO BOTANY

Mat-forming perennials. Culms 15–60 cm tall, prostrate, 

stiff, wiry; internodes glabrous; butt sheath glabrous. Leaves 

basal and cauline; sheaths glabrous; ligule a fringe of hairs; blades 

2–20 cm long, 1–3 mm wide, flat or spreading, glabrous, margins 

smooth, apex acute. Racemes 2–4 cm long, single, straight or arcuate, borne on a flexuous peduncle. Spikelets 2.5–3 mm long, 

in pairs, elliptic, laterally compressed; upper glumes 1-awned, 

awns 8–22 mm long; fertile lemma 2–3 mm long, awns 8–22 mm 

long, flexuous. Habitat: cultivated ornamental grass. Distribution: (Nv) native of tropical Asia and Australia.

202. Polypogon maritimus Willd.

FIGURE 211

Polypogon maritimus Willd., Ges. Naturf. Freunde Berlin Neue 

Schriften 3: 442. 1801. Common name: Mediterranean rabbitsfoot grass.

Caespitose annuals; rhizomes short. Culms 10–30 cm tall, 

erect, geniculate; internodes glabrous, glossy; nodes dark; butt 

sheaths glabrous. Leaves mostly basal; sheaths glabrous, ribbed, 

margins smooth; ligules 2–3 mm long, membranous, apex acute; 

blades 2–5 cm long, 2–3 mm wide, linear; conduplicate, ascending, reflexed, scabrous, margins scabrous, apex acuminate. Panicles 2–5 cm long, 1–1.5 cm wide, spiciform, linear or oblong, 

sometimes very dense and bristly. Spikelets 3–7 mm long, cuneate, laterally compressed; glumes 2–2.5 mm long, 1-awned, 

awns 3–7 mm long, spinously scabrid below, margins ciliate 

above; lemmas 1.2–1.3 mm long, awnless. Habitat: alluvial soils, 

coastal sands, and a weed of cultivation. Distribution: (Mm, Ms, 

Nv, Nn, Dg, Di, Ol, On, Ra, S) Europe, Mediterranean region 

to C Asia.

203. Polypogon monspeliensis (L.) Desf.

FIGURE 212

Polypogon monspeliensis (L.) Desf., Fl. Atlant. 1: 67. 1798. 

Common names: deil el qott, deneb el far, reesh el huossein; rabbit’s foot.

FIGURE 212. Polypogon monspeliensis. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, 

and blade. C. Inflorescence. D. Spikelet. A, C, D modified from Ibrahim and Kabuye (1988); B drawn from F. A. Barkley & H. Abbas 

1820 (US-2381497).

FIGURE 211. Polypogon maritimus. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and 

blade. C. Spikelet. A–C drawn from J. P. Sinleris s.n. (US-1109333).
NUMBER 103 • 137

Caespitose perennials; rhizomes elongated. Culms 5–50 cm 

tall long, erect, geniculate; internodes glabrous, glossy; nodes 

dark; butt sheaths glabrous. Leaves mostly basal; sheaths glabrous, 

ribbed, margins smooth; ligules 5–6 mm long, membranous, apex 

acute, lacerate; blades 5–20 cm long, 2–7 mm wide, linear, ascending, reflexed, scaberulous, margins scabrous, bases amplexicaul, 

apex acuminate. Panicles 1.5–16 cm long, 1–3.5 cm wide, spiciform, oblong or ovate, continuous or interrupted. Spikelets 2–3 

mm long, oblong, laterally compressed; glumes scabrous, 1-awned, 

awns 4–7 mm long; lemmas 1–1.5 mm long, hyaline, unawned or 

with an awn up to 2 mm long. Habitat: moist sites, waste places, 

and a weed of cultivation. Distribution: (Mm, Ms, Nv, Nn, Dg, 

Da, Di, Ol, On, S, Ra) Europe, Mediterranean, and temperate Asia.

204. Polypogon viridis (Gouan) Breistr.

FIGURE 213

Polypogon viridis (Gouan) Breistr., Bull. Soc. Bot. France 110 

(89): 56. 1963. 

Common names: deil el faar, no’eima; water bent, water beardgrass. 

Caespitose perennials; stolons sometimes present. Culms 

25–90 cm tall, erect, geniculate; internodes glabrous, glossy; nodes 

dark, lower nodes rooting; butt sheaths glabrous. Leaves mostly 

basal; sheaths glabrous, ribbed, margins smooth; ligules 3–5 mm 

long, membranous, apex acute; blades 2–15 cm long, 2–5 mm 

wide, linear-lanceolate, ascending, reflexed, scaberulous, margins 

scabrous, bases amplexicaul, apex acuminate. Panicles 2–8(–11) cm 

long, 0.5–4 cm wide, contracted, oblong or ovate, interrupted. 

Spikelets 1.75–2 mm long, elliptic laterally compressed; glumes scabrous, awnless; lemmas 1–1.5 mm long, hyaline, awnless. Habitat: 

wet sites and a weed of cultivation. Distribution: (Mm, Ms, Nv, 

Nn, Dg, Di, Ol, S, Rq, Rz) Europe, Mediterranean region to C Asia.

205. Rostraria cristata (L.) Tzvelev

FIGURE 214

Rostraria cristata (L.) Tzvelev, Novosti Sist. Vyssh. Rast. 7: 47. 1971. 

Common names: abu muashi; Mediterranean hairgrass.

FIGURE 214. Rostraria cristata. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and 

blade. C. Spikelet. A drawn from V. Täckholm s.n. (CAI); B, C 

drawn from E. Crum 1446 (US-2015000).

FIGURE 213. Polypogon viridis. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and 

blade. C. Inflorescence. D. Spikelet. A drawn from N. El Hadidi s.n.

(CAI); B–D drawn from E. R. Sohns 524 (US-2118506).
138 • SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO BOTANY

Caespitose perennials. Culms 5–30 cm tall, erect, geniculate; 

internodes glabrous, glossy; butt sheaths persistent, glabrous. 

Leaves mostly basal; sheaths hairy, margins membranous; ligules 0.5–2 mm long, membranous, apex erose, truncate; blades 

5–20 cm long, 1–3 mm wide, linear, convolute, ascending, reflexed, glabrous or pubescent, margins hairy, apex acuminate. 

Panicles 1.5–10 cm long, 0.6–1.6 cm wide, elongated, compact, 

linear or lanceolate, continuous or interrupted, branches smooth 

or scaberulous. Spikelets 3–7 mm long, oblong, laterally compressed; lemmas 2.5–4 mm long, mucronate or awned, the awns 

up to 3 mm long, straight. Habitat: desert sand, waste places, 

and a weed of cultivation. Distribution: (Mm, Ms, Nv, Nn, Dg, 

Di, Ol, On, S) Mediterranean to NW India.

206. Rostraria hispida (Savi) Dog ̆an

FIGURE 215

Rostraria hispida (Savi) Doğan, Notes Roy. Bot. Gard. Edinburgh 40(3): 509. 1983. 

Caespitose annuals. Culms 5–30 cm tall, erect, geniculate; 

internodes glabrous, glossy; butt sheaths glabrous. Leaves basal 

and cauline; sheaths hairy, ribbed, margins sparsely hairy; ligules 

0.5–1 mm long, membranous, apex truncate; blades 5–10 cm 

long, 1–7 mm wide, linear, flat, ascending, reflexed, sparsely hairy 

to pilose, margins scabrous, apex attenuate. Panicles 1–6 cm long, 

0.7–1 cm wide, spiciform, oblong or ovate. Spikelets 4–5 mm 

long, oblong, laterally compressed; lemmas 3–4.5 mm long, awns 

3–5 mm long, straight, bristly. Habitat: desert sand and seasonally 

wet sites. Distribution: (Mm?) Mediterranean region.

207. Rostraria obtusiflora (Boiss.) Holub

FIGURE 216

Rostraria obtusiflora (Boiss.) Holub, Folia Geobot. Phytotax. 

9(3): 271. 1974. 

Caespitose annuals. Culms 15–50 cm tall, erect, geniculate; internodes glabrous, glossy; butt sheaths glabrous. Leaves 

mostly basal; sheaths flattened, glabrous, margins membranous; 

FIGURE 216. Rostraria obtusiflora. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, 

and blade. C. Spikelet. A drawn from G. Täckholm s.n. (CAI); B, 

C drawn from K. A. Barkley & S. Bahaeddin 1522 (US-2381441).

FIGURE 215. Rostraria hispida. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and 

blade. C. Spikelet. A–C drawn from J. Gay (US-869440).
NUMBER 103 • 139

ligules 1–2 mm long, membranous, apex lacerate, truncate; blades 

5–10 cm long, 1–4 mm wide, linear, convolute, ascending, straight, 

glabrous or sparsely hairy, margins scabrous, apex acuminate. Panicles 3–7 cm long, 0.5–1 cm wide, spiciform, linear or lanceolate, 

compact. Spikelets 3–7 cm long, 0.5–1 cm wide, spiciform, linear, 

or lanceolate; lemmas 4 mm long, apex mucronate, awnless. Habitat: sandy soils. Distribution: (Ms) Turkey, Cyprus, and Syria.

208. Rostraria pumila (Desf.) Tzvelev

FIGURE 217

Rostraria pumila (Desf.) Tzvelev, Novosti Sist. Vyssh. Rast. 7: 

48. 1970.

Caespitose perennials. Culms 5–50 cm tall, erect, geniculate; internodes pubescent, glossy; butt sheaths glabrous. Leaves 

basal and cauline; sheaths glabrous, margins sparsely hairy; ligules 1–2 mm long, membranous, apex obtuse, lacerate; blades 

2–10 cm long, 1–2 mm wide, linear, flat, spreading, flaccid, glabrous or hirsute, margins scabrous, bases tapering, apex obtuse 

or abruptly acute. Panicles 1–6 cm long, 0.4–0.5 cm wide, spiciform, oblong or ovate, continuous or interrupted. Spikelets 2.5–

3.5 mm long, oblong, laterally compressed; lemmas 3–3.5 mm 

long, awns 2–3 mm long, straight, bristly. Habitat: alluvial soils 

and a weed of cultivation. Distribution: (Mm, Ms, Nv, Dl, Dg, 

Di, S, Ra, Ge) Mediterranean to NW India.

209. Rostraria rohlfsii (Asch.) Holub

FIGURE 218

Rostraria rohlfsii (Asch.) Holub, Folia Geobot. Phytotax. 9(3): 

272. 1974. 

FIGURE 218. Rostraria rohlfsii. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and 

blade. C. Spikelet. A drawn from Abd El-Ghani 1577 (CAI); B drawn 

from L. Chevallier (US-1130383); C modified from Cope (2005).

FIGURE 217. Rostraria pumila. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and 

blade. C. Spikelet. A drawn from V. Täckholm 707 (CAI); B 

drawn from T. R. Soderstrom 1474 (US-2915765); C modified 

from Cope (2005).
140 • SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO BOTANY

Caespitose annuals. Culms 5–30 cm tall, erect, geniculate; internodes glabrous, ribbed; butt sheaths glabrous. Leaves 

mostly basal; sheaths pubescent, ribbed, margins smooth; ligules 

0.5–1 mm long, membranous, apex lacerate; blades 1–10 cm 

long, 1–2 mm wide, flat, spreading, reflexed, pubescent, margins cartilaginous, base cordate, apex abruptly acute. Panicles 

3–10 cm long, 0.6–1 cm wide, spiciform, linear or lanceolate. 

Spikelets 4–5.5 mm long, oblong or obovate, laterally compressed; lemmas 3–4 mm long, awns 1–3 mm long, subterminal, 

straight, bristly. Habitat: sandy sites (Bahariya Oasis) and a weed 

of cultivation. Distribution: (Ol) Sahara region.

210. Saccharum officinarum* L.

FIGURE 219

Saccharum officinarum* L., Sp. Pl. 1: 54. 1753. 

Common names: qassab el sokar; sugarcane.

Solitary perennials; rhizomes short. Culms up to 400 cm 

tall, reedlike, erect; internodes glabrous, glossy; butt sheaths 

glabrous. Leaves basal and cauline; sheaths longer than adjacent internodes, overlapping, glabrous, margins smooth; ligule 

a ciliate membrane; blades 50–150 cm long, 3–60 mm wide, 

linear or narrowly lanceolate, flat, spreading, reflexed, mid-rib 

conspicuous, scabrous, margins scabrous, base cordate, apex 

acuminate. Panicles 40–60 cm long, open, pyramidal, dense. 

Spikelets 3.5–4 mm long, in pairs, lanceolate, dorsally compressed, surrounded by hairs; lemmas 0.1–1 mm long, awnless. 

Habitat: cultivated sugarcane fields. Distribution: (Nv, Nn) 

tropical.

211. Saccharum spontaneum L.

FIGURE 220

Saccharum spontaneum L., Mant. Pl. 2: 183. 1771.

Common names: bous, bous el ghazair, bous qallam, ghab farsi, 

heesh; wild cane. 

Solitary perennials; rhizomes elongated. Culms up to 

500 cm tall, solid, erect; internodes glabrous, glossy; butt 

sheaths glabrous. Leaves mostly cauline; sheaths glabrous, margins smooth; oral hairs sometimes present; ligules 1–1.5 mm 

long, ciliate membranes; blades 50–200 cm long, 5–40 mm 

wide, linear, flat, spreading, reflexed, scabrous, base narrow, 

apex acuminate. Panicles 20–50 cm long, open, ovate, densely 

flowered; racemes 3–15 cm long; primary branches 5–10 cm 

long, whorled at most nodes. Spikelets 3.5–7 mm long, in pairs, 

lanceolate, dorsally compressed, surrounded by hairs; lemmas 

1–2 mm long, awnless. Habitat: moist places and margins of 

cultivated fields. Distribution: (Mm, Ms, Nv, Nn, S) tropics and 

warm temperate Asia.

KEY TO THE SUBSPECIES

1a. Leaf blades petiolate at the base; laminas up to 7.5 mm wide, gradually reduced to a narrow wing on either side of the 

midrib; ligule triangular . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . S. spontaneum subsp. spontaneum

1b. Leaf blades not petiolate at the base; lamina 5–15(–40) mm wide: ligule crescent shaped 

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . S. spontaneum

FIGURE 219. Saccharum officinarum. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, 

and blade. C. Spikelet. A modified from Hitchcock (1951); B drawn 

from A. Henry 1688 (US-455669); C drawn from A. Raya & El 

Hadidi s.n. (CAI), Ibrahim and Kabuye (1988).
NUMBER 103 • 141

212. Schismus arabicus Nees

FIGURE 221

Schismus arabicus Nees, Fl. Afr. Austral. Ill. 1: 422. 1841.

Caespitose annuals. Culms 3–20 cm tall, erect, geniculate 

or decumbent; internodes glabrous, weak; butt sheaths glabrous. 

Leaves basal and cauline; sheaths glabrous, margins membranous; oral hairs present; ligule a fringe of hairs; blades 1–10 cm 

long, 0.5–2 mm long, filiform, convolute, ascending, scabrous, 

apex acuminate. Panicles 1–5 cm long, contracted, lanceolate or 

elliptic. Spikelets 5–7 mm long, oblong, laterally compressed; 

lemmas 2.5–3.3 mm long, bilobed, mucronate between the lobes. 

Habitat: sandy and gravel soils. Distribution: (Mm, Ms, Nv, Dl, 

Dg, Di, S, Ge) E Mediterranean to C Asia.

213. Schismus barbatus (L.) Thell.

FIGURE 222

Schismus barbatus (L.) Thell., Bull. Herb. Boissier, sér. 2, 7(5): 

391. 1907. 

Common names: abu hereida, abu mashi, bohma, zaghab el-far; 

Arabian grass.

Caespitose annuals. Culms 3–20 cm tall, erect, geniculate 

or decumbent, weak; internodes glabrous; butt sheaths glabrous. 

Leaves basal and cauline; sheaths glabrous, margins membranous; 

FIGURE 221. Schismus arabicus. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and 

blade. C. Spikelet. A drawn from T. Cope, G. Fahmy & I. El Garf 

211 (CAI); B, C drawn from G. Schweinfurth 1239 (US-806184).

FIGURE 220. Saccharum spontaneum. A. Culm. B. Ligule, sheath, 

and blade. C. Inflorescence. D. Spikelet. A drawn from V. Täckholm 

s.n. (CAI); B, C drawn from A. Pappi s.n. (US-1984411); D modified 

from Ibrahim and Kabuye (1988).
142 • SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO BOTANY

oral hairs present; ligule a fringe of hairs; blades 1–10 cm long, 

0.5–2 mm wide, filiform, convolute, ascending, sparsely hairy, margins scabrous, apex attenuate. Panicles 1–5 cm long, contracted, 

elliptic, or oblong. Spikelets 4–6 mm long, oblong, laterally compressed; lemmas 1.7–2.5 mm long, bilobed, mucronate between 

the lobes. Habitat: sandy soils. Distribution: (Mm, Ms, Nv, Dl, Dg, 

Dn, Di, Ol, S, Rz, Rq) Mediterranean, SW Asia, S and SW Africa.

214. Schmidtia pappophoroides 

Steud. ex J. A. Schmidt

FIGURE 223

Schmidtia pappophoroides Steud. ex J. A. Schmidt, Beitr. Fl. Cap 

Verd. Ins.: 145. 1852. 

Caespitose perennials; stolons sometimes present; rhizomes short. Culms 10–90 cm tall, erect, geniculate or decumbent, pubescent with swollen bulb-like bases; butt sheaths 

glabrous. Leaves basal and cauline; sheaths pubescent with 

capitate hairs, viscid, ribbed, margins sparsely hairy; oral hairs 

present; ligule a fringe of hairs; blades 5–15 cm long, 2–5 mm 

wide, linear, conduplicate, ascending, hairy on both sides, 

viscid with capitate hairs, margins scabrous, apex attenuate. 

Panicles 6–12 cm long, 2–4.5 cm wide, open or contracted, 

oblong. Spikelets 10–15 mm long, laterally compressed; lemmas 8.5–14 mm long, 9-veined, coriaceous, 5-awned, principal awns 4.5–8 mm long, straight, bristly. Habitat: sandy 

areas. Distribution: (Ol) tropical and S Africa, Socotra, and 

Pakistan.

FIGURE 223. Schmidtia pappophoroides. A. Habit. B. Ligule, 

sheath, and blade. C. Inflorescence. D. Spikelet. A, C modified 

from Ibrahim and Kabuye (1988); B, D drawn from L. Smook 

7070 (US-3199800).

FIGURE 222. Schismus barbatus. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and 

blade. C. Two spikelets. A drawn from A. Amer 10453 (CAI); B, C 

drawn from J. P. Mandaville Jr. 417 (US-2473356).
NUMBER 103 • 143

215. Schoenefeldia gracilis Kunth

FIGURE 224

Schoenefeldia gracilis Kunth, Révis. Gramin. 1: 283, pl. 53. 1830.

Caespitose annuals. Culms 20–80 cm tall, erect, geniculate 

or decumbent, weak; internodes glabrous; butt sheaths glabrous. 

Leaves basal and cauline; sheaths glabrous, ribbed, margins 

membranous; oral hairs present; ligules 1–2 mm long, a ciliate 

membrane; blades 1–10 cm long, 2–3 mm wide, filiform, convolute, ascending, hairy on basal 1⁄3, margins scabrous, apex 

attenuate-filiform. Racemes 6–15 cm long, 1–4, digitate, curved, 

1-sided, unilateral; rachis flattened. Spikelets 3–5 mm long, laterally compressed, cuneate; upper glume often mucronate; lemmas 

1.5–2.5 mm long, 3-veined, awned, the awns 10–30(–40) mm 

long, flexuous, bristly. Habitat: sandy soils in desert grasslands. 

Distribution: (Nn) tropical Africa, Arabia to Pakistan, and India.

216. Setaria geminata (Forssk.) Veldkamp

FIGURE 225

Setaria geminata (Forssk.) Veldkamp, Blumea 39(1–2): 377. 

1994. [Paspalidium geminatum (Forssk.) Stapf.]

Common names: abu beid, niseela, qassab; water paspalidium.

Mat-forming perennials; rhizomes elongated. Culms 10–

150 cm long, spongy, prostrate; internodes glabrous; nodes 

dark, lower nodes rooting; butt sheaths glabrous. Leaves basal 

and cauline; sheaths glabrous, margins smooth; ligule a fringe of

hairs; blades 3–25 cm long, 1–3 mm wide, flat or filiform, wiry, 

spreading, stiff, ribbed, scabrous, margins smooth, bases cordate, apex acuminate, setaceous. Racemes 0.5–4 cm long, borne 

along a central axis 5–30 cm long, appressed, unilateral subtended by inflated leaf sheaths, embraced at base by subtending 

leaves. Spikelets 1.6–2.6 mm long, ovate, dorsally compressed; 

FIGURE 225. Setaria geminata. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and 

blade. C. Inflorescence. D. Spikelets with upper (right) and lower 

(left) glumes. A drawn from M. Hassib s.n. (CAI); B drawn from

A. Pappi 3209 (US-2686306); C drawn from Abd El-Ghani 4109

(CAI); D modified from Allen (2003b).

FIGURE 224. Schoenefeldia gracilis. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and 

blade. C. Spikelet. A modified from Cope (2005); B, C drawn from 

W. Burger 3525 (US-2594202).
144 • SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO BOTANY

lemmas awnless. Habitat: moist sites and a weed of cultivation. 

Distribution: (Mm, Nv, Di, Ol) Old World tropics.

217. Setaria italica* (L.) P. Beauv.

FIGURE 226

Setaria italica* (L.) P. Beauv., Ess. Agrostogr. 51, 170, 178. 1812.

Common names: shaar el far; Italian foxtail millet, Italian millet.

Solitary annuals. Culms 30–80 cm tall, erect, geniculate; 

internodes glabrous, robust, ribbed; nodes dark; butt sheaths 

glabrous. Leaves basal and cauline; sheaths flattened, glabrous, 

ribbed, margins hairy; ligules 1–2 mm long, a fringe of hairs; 

blades 10–45 cm long, 6–20 mm wide, linear from a contracted 

base, spreading, flaccid, scaberulous, margins cartilaginous, 

apex attenuate. Panicles 5–30 cm long, 0.8–2.4 cm wide, spiciform, linear or oblong, continuous or interrupted, equilateral or 

nodding. Spikelets 2–3 mm long, elliptic, dorsally compressed, 

subsessile, each spikelet subtended by 1–3 bristles; bristles up to 

13 mm long; lemma awnless. Habitat: cultivated fields, occasionally cultivated as a cereal. Distribution: (Nv) warm temperate 

Old World.

218. Setaria megaphylla (Steud.) 

T. Durand & Schinz

FIGURE 227

Setaria megaphylla (Steud.) T. Durand & Schinz, Consp. Fl. Afr. 

5: 773. 1894.

Caespitose perennials. Culms up to 150 cm tall, erect, geniculate; internodes glabrous; butt sheaths glabrous. Leaves 

basal and cauline; sheaths flattened, glabrous, margins smooth; 

ligule a fringe of hairs; blades 15–20 cm long, 1–10 mm wide, 

FIGURE 227. Setaria megaphylla. A. Basal part of culm. B. Leaf. 

C. Ligule, sheath, and blade. D. Inflorescence. E. Spikelet. A drawn 

from V. Täckholm & I. El Sayed s.n. (CAI); B, D modified from

Ibrahim and Kabuye (1988); C, E drawn from R. A. M. Geeteraus 

5306 (US-2382374).

FIGURE 226. Setaria italica. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and blade. 

C. Inflorescence. D. Spikelet. A–C drawn from F. R. Fosberg 36170

(US-2669792); D: modified from Rominger (2003).
NUMBER 103 • 145

linear-lanceolate, conspicuously pleated, spreading, flaccid, 

scabrous, margins scabrous, bases tapering, apex acuminate. 

Panicles 20–60 cm long, open, linear or lanceolate. Spikelets 

2.2–3(–3.5) mm long, elliptic or ovate, dorsally compressed, sessile, acute, each spikelet subtended by bristles; lemma awnless. 

Habitat: cultivated ornamental grass and margins of forests. Distribution: (Nn and Nv) tropical and S Africa, tropical America.

219. Setaria obtusifolia (Delile) Morrone

FIGURE 228

Setaria obtusifolia (Delile) Morrone, Syst. Bot. Monogr. 96: 85–86, 

f. 11. 2014. [Paspalidium obtusifolium (Delile) D. Simpson.] 

Mat-forming perennials; rhizomes elongated. Culms 

30–60 cm long, prostrate, glabrous; lower nodes rooting; butt 

sheaths glabrous. Leaves basal and cauline; sheaths glabrous, 

margins smooth; ligules 0.5–1 mm long, a fringe of hairs; blades 

3–15 cm long, 2–10 mm wide, linear, flat or conduplicate, spreading, glabrous, margins smooth, bases narrow, apex broadly obtuse 

to acute. Racemes 1–3 cm long, borne along a flattened central axis 

10–30 cm long, unilateral. Spikelets 3–4 mm long, ovate, dorsally 

compressed; lemmas awnless. Habitat: moist sites and irrigation 

ditches. Distribution: (Mm, Nv) tropical and S Africa, Algeria.

220. Setaria pumila (Poir.) Roem. & Schult.

FIGURE 229

Setaria pumila (Poir.) Roem. & Schult., Syst. Veg. 2: 891. 1817.

Common names: deil el far, deil el qott, safwa; yellow foxtail grass.

Solitary annuals. Culms up to 130 cm tall, erect, geniculate, robust, ribbed; nodes dark, glabrous; butt sheaths glabrous. 

Leaves basal and cauline; sheaths glabrous, ribbed, margins 

FIGURE 228. Setaria obtusifolia. A. Culm. B. Ligule, sheath, and 

blade. C. Inflorescence. D. Spikelet with upper glume. A, C, D modified from Ibrahim and Kabuye (1988); B drawn from Smook & G. 

Russell 1943 (US-3193057).

FIGURE 229. Setaria pumila. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and blade. 

C. Spikelet. A, B drawn from R. Kanal 753 (US-3268326); C modified from Rominger (2003).
146 • SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO BOTANY

membranous; collars dark; ligules 1–2 mm long, ciliolate membranes or a fringe of hairs; blades 2–30 cm long, 2–5(–10) mm 

wide, linear-lanceolate, loosely twisted, spreading, flaccid, surfaces glabrous, margins scabrous, apex acute. Panicles 1–10

(–20) cm long, spiciform, terminal, linear, ovate, gibbous. Spikelets 1.5–3.5 mm long, pediceled, dorsally compressed, each spikelet subtended by 4–12 bristles; bristles 3–8 mm long, antrorsely 

scabrous; lemmas awnless. Habitat: roadsides and a weed of 

cultivation. Distribution: (Mm, Ms, Nv, Nn, Ol, S) tropical and 

warm temperate Old World.

221. Setaria verticillata (L.) P. Beauv.

FIGURE 230

Setaria verticillata (L.) P. Beauv., Ess. Agrostogr. 51, 171, 178. 

1812. 

Common names: difra, deil el qot, no’eima, no’eym, qamh el far; 

bristly foxtail, foxtail.

Caespitose annuals. Culms 30–100 cm tall, erect, geniculate; 

internodes glabrous, robust, ribbed; nodes dark; butt sheaths 

glabrous. Leaves basal and cauline; sheaths flattened, sparsely 

hairy, ribbed, margins hairy; ligule a ciliolate membrane; blades 

3–30 cm long, 4–10(–15) mm wide, linear, spreading, flaccid, scabrous, margins scabrous, apex acute. Panicles 2–15 cm 

long, 0.5–1.5 cm wide, spiciform, linear, continuous or interrupted. Spikelets 1.5–2.5 mm long, elliptic, dorsally compressed, 

pediceled, each spikelet subtended by a solitary bristle; bristles 

4–7 mm long; lemmas awnless. Habitat: a weed of cultivation. 

Distribution: (Mm, Ms, Nv, Nn, Da, Di, Ol, S, Ra, Ge) temperate and warm temperate regions of the Old World.

222. Setaria viridis (L.) P. Beauv.

FIGURE 231

Setaria viridis (L.) P. Beauv., Ess. Agrostogr. 51, 171, 178. 1812. 

Common names: deil el far; green bristlegrass, green foxtail. 

FIGURE 230. Setaria verticillata. A. Basal culm. B. Habit. C. Ligule, 

sheath, and blade. D. Spikelet. A modified from Ibrahim and Kabuye 

(1988); B–D drawn from L. F. Ward s.n. (US-825057).

FIGURE 231. Setaria viridis. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and 

blade. C. Inflorescence. D. Spikelet. A–D drawn from R. Kanal 

764 (US-3268329).
NUMBER 103 • 147

Caespitose annuals. Culms 10–100 cm tall, erect or geniculate; internodes glabrous, ribbed; butt sheaths glabrous. Leaves 

mostly cauline; sheaths glabrous, ribbed, margins hairy; ligules 

1–2 mm long, a fringe of hairs; blades 3–30 cm long, 3–7 mm 

wide, linear-lanceolate, spreading, flaccid, scaberulous, margins 

scabrous, apex acute. Panicles 1–10 cm long, 0.4–1 cm wide, 

spiciform, linear. Spikelets 1.8–3 mm long, elliptic, dorsally compressed, obtuse, each spikelet subtended by 1–3 bristles; bristles 

5–10 mm long, antrorsely scabrous; lemma awnless. Habitat: a 

weed of cultivation. Distribution: (Ms, Nv, Nn, Di, Ol, S) temperate Old World.

223. Sorghum arundinaceum (Desv.) Stapf

FIGURE 232

Sorghum arundinaceum (Desv.) Stapf, Fl. Trop. Afr. 9: 114. 

1917.

Common name: Sudan grass.

Solitary annuals or short-lived perennials. Culms up to 

400 cm tall, erect, robust, geniculate; internodes glabrous, often 

lower nodes rooting; butt sheaths glabrous. Leaves basal and cauline; sheaths glabrous, ribbed, margins smooth; ligules 2–3 mm 

long, a ciliate membrane; blades 5–70 cm long, 0.5–6 cm wide, 

linear, spreading, hairy on the basal 1⁄3, margins scabrous, bases 

cordate, apex attenuate. Panicles 10–60 cm long, open, linear 

or lanceolate or ovate; primary branches (rames) not whorled; 

rames 0.8–2 cm long, bearing 2–7 fertile spikelets. Fertile spikelets 4–9 mm long, lanceolate to ovate, dorsally compressed, 

acute; pediceled spikelets staminate or sterile; lemmas awnless. 

Habitat: swampy sites, streamsides, and disturbed sites usually in 

dark soils. Distribution: (Nv?, Nn?) Africa to India and Australia.

224. Sorghum bicolor* (L.) Moench

FIGURE 233

Sorghum bicolor* (L.) Moench, Methodus 207. 1794. 

FIGURE 232. Sorghum arundinaceum. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, 

and blade. C. Inflorescence. D. Spikelet. A–D drawn from Ndegwa 

502 (US-3066978), M. Myre (US-2151002).

FIGURE 233. Sorghum bicolor. A. Leaf and inflorescence. B. Ligule, 

sheath, and blade. C. Spikelet pedicellate (left) and sessile (right). 

A, B drawn from L. H. Dewey 161 (US-431586); C modified from 

Barkworth (2003b).
148 • SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO BOTANY

Common names: dourayit, dura hamra, dura helwa, dura 

rafia’aa, dura siefi, durra siefi; milo, sorghum.

Caespitose annuals or short-lived perennials. Culms up to 

250 cm tall, erect, robust, geniculate; internodes glabrous; butt 

sheaths glabrous. Leaves basal and cauline; sheaths glabrous, 

ribbed, margins membranous; oral hairs present; ligules 2–3 mm 

long, a ciliate membrane; blades 30–70 cm long, 0.5–7 cm wide, 

linear-lanceolate; spreading, glabrous, margins scabrous, bases 

cordate, apex acuminate. Panicles 4–50 cm long, 2–20 cm wide, 

open or contracted, lanceolate or ovate or globose, equilateral, 

or nodding, spreading; rames bearing few fertile spikelets. Fertile 

spikelets 3–10 mm long, in pairs, oblong or ovate or obovate or 

orbicular, dorsally compressed; pediceled spikelets staminate or 

sterile; lemmas unawned or awned, awns 3–10(–30) mm long, 

geniculate, column twisted, pubescent. Habitat: a cultivated cereal and a weed of cultivation. Distribution: (Mm, Ms, Nv, Nn, 

Ol) tropical Old World.

225. Sorghum halepense (L.) Pers.

FIGURE 234

Sorghum halepense (L.) Pers., Syn Pl. 1: 101. 1805.

Common names: garawa, hashish el faras, hashish el Sudan; 

Johnson grass.

Solitary perennials; rhizomes more than 2 cm long, elongated, scaly. Culms up to 50–200 cm tall, 0.4–2 cm think, erect, 

or geniculately ascending or decumbent; internodes glabrous 

to pubescent; nodes bearded, sometimes rooting below; butt 

sheaths glabrous. Leaves cauline; sheaths glabrous, ribbed, margins smooth; ligules 2–3 mm long, a ciliate membrane; blades 

20–70 cm long, 5–40 mm wide, scabrous, margins scabrous, 

bases cordate, apex acute. Panicles 10–55 cm long, 3–25 cm wide, 

open, lanceolate or pyramidal; branches (rames) 1.2–2.5 cm 

long, bearing 1–5 spikelet pairs. Spikelets 4.5–5(–5.5) mm long, 

sessile, elliptic, dorsally compressed; lemmas unawned or with 

awns 10–16 mm long from a sinus, geniculate, twisted below, 

column pubescent or hairy. Habitat: cultivated as fodder, a weed 

of cultivation, moist disturbed sites. Distribution: (Mm, Ms, Nv, 

Nn, Ol) Mediterranean to India.

226. Sorghum virgatum (Hack.) Stapf

FIGURE 235

Sorghum virgatum (Hack.) Stapf, Fl. Trop. Afr. 9: 111. 1917.

Common names: garawa, hasheesh el faras.

Solitary annuals. Culms 50–100 cm tall, erect; internodes 

glabrous; nodes bearded; butt sheaths glabrous. Leaves cauline; sheaths glabrous, ribbed, margins smooth; collars dark; ligules 2–3 mm long, membranous, apex acute or lacerate; blades 

10–40 cm long, 3–6 mm wide, linear, conduplicate, spreading, 

flaccid, glabrous, margins scabrous, apex acute. Panicles 15–60 cm 

long, open, lanceolate. Spikelets 6.5–7 mm long, lanceolate, dorsally compressed, acute; rames 1–4 cm long, bearing 3–7 fertile 

spikelets; principal lemma awns 8–16 mm long, geniculate, column 

twisted. Habitat: moist places and margins of cultivation. Distribution: (Mm, Ms, Nv, Nn, Di, Ol, S) tropical W Africa to Sudan.

227. Sorghum × drummondii* 

(Nees ex Steud.) Millsp. & Chase

FIGURE 236

Sorghum × drummondii* (Nees ex Steud.) Millsp. & Chase, 

Publ. Field Columb. Mus., Bot. Ser., 3(1): 21. 1903. [Sorghum bicolor × Sorghum arundinaceum.] 

FIGURE 234. Sorghum halepense. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and 

blade. C. Inflorescence. D. Spikelets, pedicellate (left) and sessile 

(right). A–C drawn from P. Fleming 616 (US-3117621, 3117622); 

D modified from Barkworth (2003b).
NUMBER 103 • 149

Common names: danabi, dura baladi, dura beida, dura ewiega, 

dura safra, dura siefi, hamra. 

Solitary annuals. Culms up to 400 cm tall, robust or decumbent; internodes glabrous; butt sheaths glabrous. Leaves 

basal and cauline; sheaths glabrous, ribbed, margins smooth; 

ligules 2–3 mm long, a ciliate membrane; blades 5–70 cm 

long, 5–60 mm wide, lanceolate, spreading, hairy on the basal 

1⁄3, margins scabrous, bases cordate, apex acuminate. Panicles 

15–30 cm long, 8–15 cm wide, open, ovate or pyramidal; rames 

1.5–2.5 cm long, bearing few fertile spikelets. Spikelets 6–7.5 

mm long, 2–3 mm wide, elliptic, dorsally compressed, subacute; 

principal lemma awns 10–16 mm long, geniculate, column 

twisted. Habitat: cultivated as forage. Distribution: (Mm, Mp, 

Nv, Nn, Ol, S) tropics Old World.

228. Sphenopus divaricatus (Gouan) Rchb.

FIGURE 237

Sphenopus divaricatus (Gouan) Rchb., Fl. Germ. Excurs. 45. 

1830. 

Common name: indinqirni.

FIGURE 236. Sorghum × drummondii. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, 

and blade. C. Inflorescence. D. Spikelet. A drawn from V. Täckholm 

s.n.(CAI); B–D drawn from H. L. Shantz 946 (US-1298217).

FIGURE 235. Sorghum virgatum. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and 

blade. C. Inflorescence. D. Inflorescence branch. E. Spikelet. A 

drawn from N. El Hadidi s.n. (CAI); B drawn from G. Schweinfurth 

68 (US-1259677); C–E drawn from A. Bakry 2843 (CAI).
150 • SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO BOTANY

Solitary, delicate annuals. Culms 10–30 cm tall, erect, geniculate; internodes glabrous, delicate, purplish; nodes dark; butt 

sheaths glabrous. Leaves basal and cauline; sheaths much longer 

than blades, glabrous, margins membranous; ligules 2–3 mm long, 

membranous, decurrent, apex acute; blades 5–7 cm long, 0.5–

1.5 mm wide, filiform, convolute, spreading, ascending, glabrous, 

margins scabrous, bases narrow, apex attenuate. Panicles 2–10 cm 

long, open, ovate. Spikelets 2–3 mm long, 2–3(–5)-flowered, elliptic, laterally compressed; lemmas 1.2–1.6 mm long, awnless. 

Habitat: sandy soils on alluvial slopes. Distribution: (Mm, Ms, 

Nv, Ol, On, Di) Mediterranean to C Asia.

229. Sporobolus aculeatus (L.) P. M. Peterson

FIGURE 238

Sporobolus aculeatus (L.) P. M. Peterson, Taxon 63(6): 1234. 

2014 [Crypsis aculeata (L.) Aiton].

Common name: prickle grass.

Caespitose annuals. Culms 5–35 cm tall, erect, geniculate 

or prostrate, branches ample; internodes glabrous; butt sheaths 

glabrous. Leaves basal and cauline; sheaths longer than blades, 

the uppermost strongly compressed, ribbed, glabrous, margins 

membranous; oral hair ciliate; ligules 1–2 mm long, a fringe 

of hairs; blades 2–5 cm long, 2–3.5 mm wide, lanceolate, flat 

or involute, stiff, firm, pilose, hairy on upper and lower surfaces, margins scabrous, apex acuminate. Panicles 0.5–1 cm 

long, capitate, corymbose, ellipsoid or ovoid, subtended by 2 

sheathless blades. Spikelets 3–4.5 mm long, 1-flowered, elliptic, 

laterally compressed; glumes shorter than the lemmas; lemmas 

3.5–4.5 mm long, awnless. Habitat: weed of cultivation and 

disturbed sites. Distribution: (Mm, Nv) Mediterranean region 

to E Asia.

FIGURE 238. Sporobolus aculeatus. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and 

blade. C. Inflorescence enclosed in two sheathless bladesSpikelet. A 

drawn from H. Lamer s.n. (CAI); B, C drawn from G. Schweinfurth 

472 (US-821382).

FIGURE 237. Sphenopus divaricatus. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, 

and blade. C. Inflorescence. D. Spikelet. A, C drawn from H. Hosni 

s.n. (CAI); B, D drawn from T. R. Sodersrom 1475 (US-2915766), 

O. J. Salmeer s.n. (US-2970954).
NUMBER 103 • 151

230. Sporobolus alopecuroides 

(Piller & Mitterp.) P. M. Peterson

FIGURE 239

Sporobolus alopecuroides (Piller & Mitterp.) P. M. Peterson, 

Taxon 63(6): 1234. 2014. [Crypsis alopecuroides (Piller & 

Mitterp.) Schrad.]

Common name: foxtail prickle grass.

Mat-forming annuals. Culms 5–30 cm tall, branches ample, 

green or glaucous, decumbent or prostrate; internodes striate, glabrous; butt sheaths glabrous. Leaves basal and cauline; 

sheaths strongly compressed, ribbed, hairy, margins smooth; ligule a fringe of hairs; blades 5–10 cm long, 1–3 mm wide, glaucous, linear, flat or revolute, pubescent to sparsely hairy, midribs 

conspicuous above, margins scabrous, apex acuminate. Panicles 

0.5–7.5 cm long, 0.3–0.6 cm wide, spiciform, linear, erect, terminal, partially included in leaf sheaths. Spikelets 2–2.5 mm long, 

1-flowered, elliptic, laterally compressed; lemmas 2–2.5 mm 

long, awnless. Habitat: weed of cultivation and roadsides. Distribution: (Nv, Di) Mediterranean to C Asia.

231. Sporobolus ioclados (Nees ex Trin.) Nees

FIGURE 240

Sporobolus ioclados (Nees ex Trin.) Nees, Fl. Afr. Austral. Ill. 

1:161. 1841. 

Common name: pan dropseed.

Caespitose perennials; stolons sometimes present. Culms 

10–80 cm tall, erect, geniculate; internodes glabrous, striped; nodes 

FIGURE 240. Sporobolus ioclados. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and 

blade. C. Inflorescence. D. Inflorescence branch with four spikelets. 

A, C drawn from Migahid & Sheikh 429-A (CAI); B, D drawn from 

J. Ash (US-2837164).

FIGURE 239. Sporobolus alopecuroides. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, 

and blade. C. Spikelet. A drawn from N. Vyhodeevski 406 (CAI); B, 

C drawn from L. Richer (US-996159).
152 • SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO BOTANY

dark; butt sheaths glabrous. Leaves basal and cauline; sheaths flattened, ribbed, glabrous, margins membranous; oral hairs present; 

ligule a fringe of hairs; blades 2–20 cm long, 1–3 mm wide, flat 

or convolute, straight, ascending, scabrous, margins cartilaginous, 

bases narrow, apex acuminate. Panicles 3–20 cm long, open to 

somewhat contracted, pyramidal. Spikelets 1.5–3(–3.3) mm long, 

1-flowered, lanceolate, subterete; lemmas 1.5–3 mm long, awnless. Habitat: rocky slopes and wadis. Distribution: (Ge?, Da?, 

Dg?, Dl?, Dn?) tropical Africa, Arabia to India.

232. Sporobolus natalensis (Steud.) 

T. Durand & Schinz

FIGURE 241

Sporobolus natalensis (Steud.) T. Durand & Schinz, Consp. Fl. 

Afr. 5: 822. 1895. 

Common name: giant rat’s tail grass.

Caespitose perennials. Culms up to 100 cm tall, erect, geniculate; internodes glabrous, striped; butt sheaths glabrous. Leaves 

basal and cauline; sheaths ribbed, surfaces glabrous, margins scabrous; oral hairs present; ligule a fringe of hairs; blades 20–50 cm 

long, 1–3 mm wide, flat or convolute, flaccid, ascending, hairy on 

the basal 1⁄3, margins pubescent, bases narrow, apex filiform, attenuate. Panicles 20–30 cm long, narrowly triangular, somewhat 

contracted, partially included in the leaf sheath. Spikelets 1.6–

2.3 mm long, 1-flowered, lanceolate, subterete; lemmas 1.6–2.3 

mm long, awnless. Habitat: damp sandy and rocky sites, introduced. Distribution: (Mm) tropical and S Africa, Arabia.

233. Sporobolus niliacus (Bornm.) 

P. M. Peterson

FIGURE 242

Sporobolus niliacus (Bornm.) P. M. Peterson, Taxon 63(6): 1234. 

2014. [Crypsis vaginiflora (Forssk.) Opiz.] 

Common name: modest prickle grass.

Mat-forming annuals. Culms 10–35 cm tall, decumbent or 

prostrate; internodes glabrous; nodes dark; butt sheaths glabrous. 

Leaves basal and cauline; sheaths longer than blades, ribbed, the 

FIGURE 242. Sporobolus niliacus. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, 

and blade. C. Inflorescence enclosed by two leaves. A drawn 

from L. Boulos s.n. (CAI); B, C drawn from P. J. Greenway 

5804 (US-1815406).

FIGURE 241. Sporobolus natalensis. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, 

and blade. C. Inflorescence. D. Two spikelets. A–D drawn from 

Reading Univ. 103 (K-H2011/01927).
NUMBER 103 • 153

upper strongly compressed, keeled, glaucous, margins hairy; collars pilose; ligules 1–2 mm long, a fringe of hairs; blades 2–5 cm 

long, 2–3.5 mm wide, deciduous at the ligules, lanceolate, flat or 

convolute, stiff, firm, sparsely hairy, margins scabrous, bases cordate, apex acuminate. Panicles 0.3–1.5 cm long, capitate, ovate or 

ellipsoid, subtended by an inflated leaf sheath (spatheoles). Spikelets 2.5–3.2 mm long, 1-flowered, elliptic, laterally compressed; 

lemmas 2.5–3.2 mm long, awnless. Habitat: moist places. Distribution: (Nv, Nn, Dl, Dg) tropical Africa to India.

234. Sporobolus pungens (Schreb.) Kunth

FIGURE 243

Sporobolus pungens (Schreb.) Kunth, Révis. Gramin. 1:68. 1829.

Mat-forming perennials; rhizomes elongated. Culms 

10–30 cm tall, erect, geniculate, glabrous; butt sheaths glabrous. 

Leaves basal and cauline, conspicuously distichous; sheaths ribbed, 

glabrous; margins smooth; ligule a fringe of hairs; blades 2–8 cm 

long, 1–4 mm wide, linear, involute, straight, ascending, hairy on 

basal 1⁄3, margins pubescent, bases narrow, apex spiny pungent. 

Panicles 3–6 cm long, contracted, ovate. Spikelets 1.5–2.5 mm 

long, 1-flowered, lanceolate, subterete; lemmas 1.5–2.5 mm long, 

awnless. Habitat: seashore, sandy areas, and salt marshes. Distribution: (Mm, Ms, Nv, Di, S) Mediterranean region.

235. Sporobolus schoenoides (L.) 

P. M. Peterson

FIGURE 244

Sporobolus schoenoides (L.) P. M. Peterson, Taxon 63(6): 1234. 

2014. [Crypsis schoenoides (L.) Lam.] 

Common names: babaaq, hosaad; cowpond grass, swamp 

prickle grass, swamp timothy.

Mat-forming annuals. Culms 5–35 cm tall, glaucous, 

decumbent or prostrate; internodes glabrous; butt sheaths 

FIGURE 243. Sporobolus pungens. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and 

blade. C. Spikelet. A drawn from Imam s.n. (CAI); B, C drawn from

J. Pitard s.n. (US-1130127).

FIGURE 244. Sporobolus schoenoides. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, 

and blade. C. Spikelet. A drawn from H. Lindberg s.n. (CAI); B, C 

drawn from N. C. Chase 6983 (US-2464000).
154 • SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO BOTANY

glabrous. Leaves basal and cauline; the uppermost sheath conspicuously inflated, glabrous, margins smooth; ligules 1–2 mm 

long, a fringe of hairs; blades 2–10 cm long, 2–3.5 mm wide, 

lanceolate, flat, appressed, sparsely hairy on lower surfaces, margins glandular, bases cordate, apex acuminate. Panicles 0.5–3 cm 

long, capitate, elliptic or oblong, subtended by inflated leaf 

sheaths (spatheoles). Spikelets 2.5–4 mm long, 1-flowered, laterally compressed, falling entire; lemmas 2.5–4 mm long, awnless. 

Habitat: rocky slopes, sandy and saline soils. Distribution: (Mm, 

Nv) Mediterranean and temperate Asia.

236. Sporobolus spicatus (Vahl) Kunth

FIGURE 245

Sporobolus spicatus (Vahl) Kunth, Révis. Gramin. 1:67. 1829.

Common names: negil shoki, rukeib, sabat, sabat gabali, silla.

Mat-forming perennials; stolons present. Culms 10–70 cm 

tall, erect, wiry, geniculate; internodes glabrous; nodes dark, 

lower nodes rooting; butt sheaths glabrous. Leaves basal and 

cauline; sheaths flattened, ribbed, glabrous, margins membranous; oral hairs present; ligule a fringe of hairs; blades 2–25 cm 

long, 1–3 mm wide, flat or convolute, straight, ascending, hairy 

on basal 1⁄3, margins pubescent, apex spiny pungent. Panicles 

1.5–20 cm long, 0.2–0.4 cm wide, spiciform, linear. Spikelets 

1.4–2.2(–2.8) mm long, 1-flowered, lanceolate, subterete, appressed; lemmas 0.8–2.2 mm long, awnless. Habitat: saline soils 

and sandy areas. Distribution: (Nv, Nn, Dl, Dg, Da, Ol, On, S, 

Ra, Ge) Africa to India.

237. Sporobolus wrightii* Munro ex Scribn.

FIGURE 246

Sporobolus wrightii* Munro ex Scribn., Bull. Torrey Bot. Club 

9: 103. 1882. 

Common name: giant sacaton.

FIGURE 246. Sporobolus wrightii. A. Culm. B. Ligule, sheath, and 

blade. C. Inflorescence. D. Spikelet. A–D drawn from H. S. Gentry 

8580 (US-1984316).

FIGURE 245. Sporobolus spicatus. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and 

blade. C. Spikelet. A, C drawn from L. Boulos s.n. (CAI); B drawn 

from P. Greenway 8766 (US-2464345).
NUMBER 103 • 155

Caespitose perennials. Culms up to 200 cm tall, erect, robust; internodes glabrous, striped; butt sheaths glabrous. Leaves 

basal and cauline; sheaths ribbed, glabrous, margins membranous; ligules 1–2 mm long, a fringe of hairs; blades 20–60 cm 

long, 3–10 mm wide, flat, straight, ascending, surfaces scabrous, 

margins scabrous, apex acuminate. Panicles 20–60 cm long; 

12–26 cm wide, open, broadly lanceolate. Spikelets 1.5–2.5 mm 

long, 1-flowered, lanceolate, subterete; lemmas 1.2–2.5 mm 

long, awnless. Habitat: introduced from North America. Distribution: (Mm) USA and Mexico.

238. Stenotaphrum secundatum* 

(Walter) Kuntze

FIGURE 247

Stenotaphrum secundatum* (Walter) Kuntze, Revis. Gen. Pl. 2: 

794. 1891.

Common names: negeil faransawi; Saint Augustine grass.

Caespitose perennials; stolons present. Culms 10–30 cm 

tall, decumbent; internodes glabrous; lower nodes rooting; butt 

sheaths glabrous. Leaves basal and cauline; sheaths flattened, 

compressed, ribbed, glabrous, margins hairy; oral hairs present; 

ligule a fringe of hairs; blades 2–15 cm long, 4–10 mm wide, 

linear lanceolate, flat or conduplicate, straight, spreading, scabrous, margins smooth, apex obtuse. Inflorescences 3–10 cm 

long, composed of racemes wholly or partially sunk in a corky 

central axis; racemes 0.5–1 cm long. Spikelets 4–5 mm long, 

oblong, dorsally compressed; lemmas 4–4.5 mm long, awnless. 

Habitat: cultivated as lawn grass, introduced. Distribution: (N) 

Atlantic coasts of Africa and America.

239. Stipa arabica Trin. & Rupr.

FIGURE 248

Stipa arabica Trin. & Rupr., Sp. Gram. Stipac. 77. 1842. 

Common name: hamara.

FIGURE 247. Stenotaphrum secundatum. A. Habit. B. Ligule, 

sheath, and blade. C. Inflorescence branch. D. Spikelets with upper 

(right) and lower (left) glumes. A drawn from V. Täckholm s.n.

(CAI); B drawn from A. J. Oakes 1270 (US-3025891); C modified 

from Cope (2005); D modified from Allred (2003).

FIGURE 248. Stipa arabica. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and blade.

C. Spikelet. A drawn from Grizi 243 (CAI); B, C drawn from L. Chevallier s.n. (US-550403) and A. Gray 270 (US-993566).
156 • SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO BOTANY

Densely caespitose perennials. Culms 30–70(–100) cm tall, 

decumbent; internodes pubescent; nodes dark; butt sheaths glabrous. Leaves mostly basal; sheaths glabrous, ribbed, margins 

smooth; ligules 6–8 mm long, membranous, apex acute; blades 

4–6 cm long, 1–2.5 mm wide, filiform, involute, straight, stiff, 

sparsely hairy, margins ciliate, apex attenuate. Panicles 15–35 cm 

long open, linear, bearing few spikelets, partially included in the 

sheath. Spikelets 25–35 mm long, lanceolate, subterete; lemmas 

9–15 mm long including the pungent callus 1–1.5 mm long, 

lemma awns 10–16(–22) cm long, bigeniculate, feathery, column 

twisted. Habitat: stony ground. Distribution: (S) E Mediterranean region to Pakistan.

240. Stipa lagascae Roem. & Schult.

FIGURE 249

Stipa lagascae Roem. & Schult., Syst. Veg., ed. 15 bis, 2: 333. 

1817. [Stipa gigantea var. lagascae (Roem. & Schult.) Hack. 

ex Kneuck.] 

Common name: gawther.

Densely caespitose perennials. Culms 30–60 cm tall, erect, 

woody; internodes glabrous; butt sheaths pubescent. Leaves 

mostly basal; sheaths glabrous, ribbed, margins hairy; ligules 

6–8 mm long, membranous; blades 15–30 cm long, 1–2 mm wide, 

filiform, convolute or bristlelike, straight, stiff, scaberulous, margins scabrous, apex attenuate. Panicles 25–40 mm long, partially 

included in the sheath. Spikelets 25–40 mm long, lanceolate, subterete; lemmas 17–23 mm long including the acuminate pungent 

callus 3–4 mm long, lemma awns 16–30 cm long, bigeniculate, 

feathery, column twisted. Habitat: rocky slopes and sandy areas. 

Distribution: (Mm, Nv, Di) shores of the southern Mediterranean.

241. Stipagrostis acutiflora 

(Trin. & Rupr.) De Winter

FIGURE 250

Stipagrostis acutiflora (Trin. & Rupr.) De Winter, Kirkia 3: 133. 

1963. 

Common name: sakham.

FIGURE 249. Stipa lagascae. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and 

blade. C. Inflorescence. D. Floret. A–D drawn from G. C. Joad 

s.n. (US-152837).

FIGURE 250. Stipagrostis acutiflora. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, 

and blade. C. Glumes and floret. A, C drawn from E. Canon s.n.

(US-152805), A. Amin s.n. (CAI); B drawn from L. Chevallier s.n. 

(US-550638).
NUMBER 103 • 157

Caespitose perennials; stolons sometimes present. Culms 

20–60 cm tall, erect, weak; internodes densely pubescent; nodes 

dark; butt sheaths glabrous. Leaves basal and cauline; sheaths 

flattened, glabrous, margins membranous; oral hairs present; ligules 1 mm long, a fringe of hairs; blades 4–6 cm long, 1–2 mm 

wide, filiform, convolute, straight or curved, stiff, scabrous, 

margins scabrous, apex acuminate. Panicles 5–15 cm long, open, 

lanceolate, sometimes included in the sheath below. Spikelets 

9 mm long, lanceolate, subterete; lemmas 5 mm long, 3-awned, 

central awns 10–15 mm long, feathery, column slightly twisted. 

Habitat: sandy soils. Distribution: (Nv, Nn, Dl, Da, Di, Ug) N 

Africa and Arabia.

242. Stipagrostis ciliata (Desf.) De Winter

FIGURE 251

Stipagrostis ciliata (Desf.) De Winter, Kirkia 3: 133. 1963. 

Common names: hemeira, nessiye.

Caespitose perennial; rhizomes short. Culms 30–80 cm tall, 

erect; internodes glabrous; nodes conspicuously bearded; butt 

sheaths glabrous. Leaves basal and cauline; sheaths longer than 

blades, ribbed, glabrous, margins smooth; ligule a fringe of hairs; 

blades 4–25 cm long, 1–2 mm wide, filiform, convolute or conduplicate, straight, stiff, glabrous, margins smooth, apex acuminate. Panicles 10–30 cm long, open, terminal, partially included in 

the sheath. Spikelets 9–14 mm long, lanceolate, subterete, lemmas 

6–10 mm long, 3-awned, central awns 35–45 mm long, feathery, 

column twisted. Habitat: rocky and sandy soils. Distribution: (Mm, 

Ms, Nv, Dl, Dg, Di, S, Ra, Ge) Micronesia, N Africa to SW Asia.

243. Stipagrostis drarii (Täckh.) De Winter

FIGURE 252

Stipagrostis drarii (Täckh.) De Winter, Kirkia 3: 133. 1963.

FIGURE 251. Stipagrostis ciliata. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and 

blade. C. Glumes and floret. A drawn from G. Täckholm s.n. (CAI); 

B, C drawn from C. L. Smook 6839 (US-3199839).

FIGURE 252. Stipagrostis drarii. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and 

blade. C. Glumes and floret. A drawn from Migahid 492-A (CAI); B, 

C drawn from S. Collenett 5735 (K-H2012/008996).
158 • SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO BOTANY

Caespitose perennials. Culms 50–100 cm tall, erect, woolly; 

butt sheaths glabrous. Leaves mostly basal; sheath longer than 

adjacent internodes, ribbed, glabrous, margins smooth; ligule a 

fringe of hairs; blades 15–30 cm long, 1–1.5 mm wide, filiform, 

convolute, curly, stiff, ribbed, scabrous, margins scabrous, apex 

spiny pungent. Panicles 10–30 cm long, terminal, open, elliptic, 

partially included in the sheath. Spikelets 9.5–10.5 mm long, lanceolate, subterete; lemmas 4.5–5.5 mm long, 3-awned, central 

awns 13–25 mm long, feathery, columns twisted. Habitat: desert 

sands. Distribution: (Di) Arabia and Iraq.

244. Stipagrostis hirtigluma 

(Steud. ex Trin. & Rupr.) De Winter

FIGURE 253

Stipagrostis hirtigluma (Steud. ex Trin. & Rupr.) De Winter, 

Kirkia 3: 136. 1963. 

Common name: qau.

Caespitose annuals or short-lived perennials. Culms 

30–70 cm tall, erect, geniculate; internodes glabrous, ribbed; 

butt sheaths glabrous. Leaves basal and cauline; sheaths ribbed, 

glabrous, margins membranous; ligule a fringe of hairs; blades 

6–20 cm long, 1–2 mm wide, filiform, convolute, straight, stiff, 

scabrous, margins scabrous, apex acuminate. Panicles 10–15 cm 

long, open. Spikelets 10–13 mm long, lanceolate, subterete; lemmas 3.5–4 mm long, 3-awned, central awns 35–55 mm long, 

feathery, column twisted. Habitat: sandy and rocky desert. Distribution: (Da, Ol, S, Rq, Rz, Ra, Ge) tropical and S Africa to 

Arabia and India.

245. Stipagrostis lanata (Forssk.) De Winter

FIGURE 254

Stipagrostis lanata (Forssk.) De Winter, Kirkia 3: 135. 1963. 

Common names: ain seela, sakham, shafshoof.

FIGURE 254. Stipagrostis lanata. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and 

blade. C.Glumes and floret. D. Inflorescence. A drawn from R. Ibrahim s.n. (CAI), G. Maire s.n. (CAI); B–D drawn from G. Schweinfurth 437 (US-806226).

FIGURE 253. Stipagrostis hirtigluma. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, 

and blade. C. Glumes and floret. A drawn from V. Täckholm, 

M. Kassas, H. Fawzy, F. Shalaby & M. Zahran 369 (CAI); B, C 

drawn from J. P. Mandaville 3369 (US-2653898).
NUMBER 103 • 159

Caespitose perennials. Culms 10–20 cm tall, erect or decumbent; lower internodes densely woolly; butt sheaths glabrous. 

Leaves mostly basal; sheaths ribbed, glabrous, margins membranous; ligule a fringe of hairs; blades 4–10 cm long, 1–2 mm wide, 

linear, convolute, curly or flexuous, scabrous, margins smooth, 

apex attenuate. Panicles 10–13 mm long, lanceolate, subterete, 

partially included in the sheath. Spikelets 13–14 mm long, lanceolate, subterete; lemmas 4–5 mm long, 3-awned, central awns 

30–35 mm long, feathery, column twisted. Habitat: sandy dunes 

sometimes associated with palm trees. Distribution: (Mm, Ms, 

Nv, Dl, Di) N Africa and SW Asia.

246. Stipagrostis multinerva Scholz

FIGURE 255

Stipagrostis multinerva Scholz, Österr. Bot. Z. 117: 289. 1969. 

Caespitose perennials. Culms 10–30 cm tall, decumbent; 

lower internodes woolly; butt sheaths glabrous. Leaves basal and 

cauline; sheaths ribbed, glabrous, margins smooth; ligule a fringe 

of hairs; blades 4–10 cm long, 1–2.5 mm wide, filiform, involute, straight, stiff, scabrous, margins smooth, apex attenuate. 

Panicles 2–8 cm long, open, terminal, linear, partially included 

in the sheath. Spikelets 14–16 mm long, lanceolate, subterete; 

lemmas 6–7 mm long, 3-awned, central awns 35–45 mm long, 

feathery, column twisted. Habitat: sandy areas. Distribution: (S) 

Arabian peninsula.

247. Stipagrostis obtusa (Delile) Nees

FIGURE 256

Stipagrostis obtusa (Delile) Nees, Linnaea 7: 293. 1932. 

Common names: dhareri, safsoof.

Mat-forming perennials. Culms 10–30 cm tall, erect, pubescent; nodes dark; butt sheaths with whitish fibers, otherwise 

FIGURE 255. Stipagrostis multinerva. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, 

and blade. C. Glumes and floret. A–C drawn from H. St. John 

Philby 22 (BM-000797730).

FIGURE 256. Stipagrostis obtusa. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and 

blade. C. Glumes and floret. A drawn from D. Podlech 33371 (CAI); 

B, C drawn from C. Aurich & H. Forther s.n. (US-3343372).
160 • SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO BOTANY

glabrous. Leaves mostly basal; sheaths ribbed, glabrous, margins 

membranous; oral hairs present; ligule a fringe of hairs; blades 

4–25 cm long, 0.5–1.5 mm wide, linear, filiform, convolute, ascending, ribbed, smooth or scaberulous, margins smooth, apex 

obtuse. Panicles 2.5–20 cm long, terminal, contracted, linear, 

continuous or interrupted, partially included in the sheath. Spikelets 8.5–12 mm long, lanceolate, subterete; lemmas 2–2.5 mm 

long, 3-awned, central awns 20–30 mm long, feathery, column 

twisted. Habitat: stony, sandy, and gravelly sites. Distribution: 

(Mm, Nv, Dg, Di) N Africa to SW Asia.

248. Stipagrostis paradisea (Edgew.) De Winter

FIGURE 257

Stipagrostis paradisea (Edgew.) De Winter, Kirkia 3: 135. 1963. 

Caespitose perennials. Culms 10–40 cm tall, erect, glabrous, 

much branched at the base; butt sheaths glabrous, persistent. 

Leaves mostly basal; sheaths ribbed, glabrous, margins smooth; 

ligule a fringe of hairs; blades 3–20 cm long, 0.5–1.5 mm wide, 

linear, filiform, convolute, ascending, glabrous, margins smooth, 

apex pungent. Panicles 10–15 cm long, open, terminal, partially 

included in the sheath. Spikelets 16–19 mm long, lanceolate, subterete; lemmas 3.5–5 mm long, 3-awned, central awns 45–70 mm 

long, feathery, column twisted. Habitat: rocky ground. Distribution: (Nv, Dg) Somalia and SW Asia.

249. Stipagrostis plumosa (L.) 

Munro ex T. Anderson

FIGURE 258

Stipagrostis plumosa (L.) Munro ex T. Anderson, J. Linn. Soc., 

Bot. 5(Suppl. 1): 40. 1860. 

Common names: dreira, nessiye, qaba, sh’aish.

FIGURE 257. Stipagrostis paradisea. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, 

and blade. C. Glumes and floret. A drawn from M. Fathallah s.n.

(CAI); B, C drawn from K. H. Rechinger 31026 (US-2637383).

FIGURE 258. Stipagrostis plumosa. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and 

blade. C. Glumes and floret. A drawn from L. Boulos s.n (CAI); B, C 

drawn from F. A. Barkley & A. Askari 1799 (US-2381495).
NUMBER 103 • 161

Caespitose perennials. Culms 10–30 cm tall, erect; internodes 

densely woolly; nodes dark; butt sheaths woolly. Leaves basal and 

cauline; sheaths longer than adjacent internodes, ribbed, glabrous 

or lower densely woolly, margins smooth; ligule a fringe of hairs; 

collars dark; blades 4–12 cm long, 1–3 mm wide, filiform, convolute, curly, glabrous, margins smooth, bases narrow, apex spiny 

pungent. Panicles 6–15 cm long, terminal, contracted, lanceolate, 

partially included in the sheath. Spikelets 11–15 mm long, lanceolate, subterete; lemmas 3.5–5.5 mm long, 3-awned, central awns 

25–60 mm long, feathery, column twisted. Habitat: stony and 

sandy soils. Distribution: (Mm, Ms, Nv, Nn, Dl, Da, Dg, Di, Ol, 

S, Ra, Ge) Mediterranean region and SW Asia.

250. Stipagrostis raddiana (Savi) De Winter

FIGURE 259

Stipagrostis raddiana (Savi) De Winter, Kirkia 3: 135. 1963.

 Common name: nussi.

Caespitose perennials; rhizomes elongated. Culms 10–40 cm 

tall, erect, pubescent; internodes woolly below; butt sheaths glabrous. Leaves basal and cauline, ribbed, scabrous, margins smooth; 

ligule a fringe of hairs; blades 10–15 cm long, 0.5–1.5 mm wide, 

filiform, convolute, curly, pubescent, margins scabrous, apex attenuate. Panicles 10–20 cm long, terminal, contracted, partially 

included in the sheath. Spikelets 13–16 mm long, lanceolate, subterete; lemmas 4 mm long, 3-awned, central awns 50 mm long, 

feathery, column twisted. Habitat: sandy and rocky desert. Distribution: (Nv, Dg, Da, S, Ge) N Africa and SW Asia.

251. Stipagrostis scoparia 

(Trin. & Rupr.) De Winter

FIGURE 260

Stipagrostis scoparia (Trin. & Rupr.) De Winter, Kirkia 3: 136. 

1963. 

Common name: sabat.

Caespitose perennials. Culms 30–60 cm tall, erect, glabrous, 

striate; butt sheaths glabrous. Leaves basal and cauline; sheaths 

FIGURE 259. Stipagrostis raddiana. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, 

and blade. C. Floret. D. Glumes. A: Migahid 386-M (CAI); B–D: V. 

Tackholm s.n. (K-2012/00899).

FIGURE 260. Stipagrostis scoparia. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and 

blade. C. Inflorescence. D. Glumes and floret. A drawn from L. Boulos s.n. (CAI); B–D drawn from G. Schweinfurth 447 (US-806228).
162 • SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO BOTANY

flattened, glabrous, margins scabrous; ligule a fringe of hairs; 

blades 10–25 cm long, 0.5–1.5 mm wide, filiform, convolute, 

curved, scabrous, margins smooth, apex spiny pungent. Panicles 

20–40 cm long, 15 cm wide, open, terminal, elliptic, effuse. 

Spikelets 18–22 mm long, lanceolate, subterete; lemmas 5–6 mm 

long, 3-awned, central awns 7–9 mm long, feathery, column 

twisted. Habitat: sandy soils. Distribution: (Mm, Ms, Nv, Dl, 

Dg, Di, Ol, On) N Africa and SW Asia.

252. Stipagrostis shawii (Scholz) Scholz

FIGURE 261

Stipagrostis shawii (Scholz) Scholz, Österr. Bot. Z. 117: 290. 1969.

Caespitose annuals. Culms 10–15 cm long, tall; internodes 

pubescent, lower woolly; butt sheaths glabrous. Leaves mostly 

basal; sheaths glabrous, lower woolly, margins smooth; ligule a 

fringe of hairs; blades 5–10 cm long, 0.5–1.5 mm wide, filiform, 

convolute, ascending, pubescent, margins smooth, apex attenuate. 

Panicles 5–10 cm long, terminal, open, partially included in the 

sheath. Spikelets 15–16 mm long, lanceolate, subterete; lemmas 

3–4 mm long, 3-awned, central awns 45–50 mm long, feathery, 

column straight. Habitat: sandy soil. Distribution: (Ug) N Africa.

253. Stipagrostis uniplumis (Licht.) De Winter

FIGURE 262

Stipagrostis uniplumis (Licht.) De Winter, Kirkia 3: 136. 1963.

Common name: large bushman grass.

Caespitose perennial. Culms 30–80 cm tall, erect; internodes 

glabrous; nodes dark; butt sheaths glabrous. Leaves basal and 

cauline; sheaths ribbed, glabrous, margins membranous; ligule a 

FIGURE 261. Stipagrostis shawii. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, 

and blade. C. Spikelet. A–C drawn from W. B. K. Shaw 29

(K-H2012/00821-1).

FIGURE 262. Stipagrostis uniplumis. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, 

and blade. C. Glumes and floret. A drawn from V Täckholm, 

M. Kassas, H. Fawzi & M. Zahran 2061; B, C drawn from De Winter & Hardy 8063 (US-3510523).
NUMBER 103 • 163

fringe of hairs; blades 5–15 cm long, 0.5–1.5 mm wide, filiform, 

convolute, curly, scabrous, margins smooth, apex attenuate. 

Panicles 10–15 cm long, open, terminal, partially included in the 

sheath. Spikelets 9–10 mm long, lanceolate, subterete; lemmas 

2–3.5 mm long, central awns 20–35 mm long, feathery, column 

twisted. Habitat: wadi beds. Distribution: (Da, Ge) tropical and 

S Africa to Arabia and Pakistan.

254. Stipagrostis vulnerans

(Trin. & Rupr.) De Winter

FIGURE 263

Stipagrostis vulnerans (Trin. & Rupr.) De Winter, Kirkia 3: 136. 

1963. 

Common names: shok el ghazal, shoosh.

Suffrutescent perennials; roots woolly. Culms 30–60 cm 

tall, erect; woody, glabrous; nodes dark; butt sheaths glabrous. 

Leaves mostly basal; sheaths flattened, ribbed, glabrous, margins 

scabrous; oral hairs present; collars dark colored; ligule a fringe 

of hairs; blades 5–25 cm long, 0.5–1.5 mm wide, linear, filiform, 

convolute, spreading, scabrous, margins smooth, apex pungent. 

Panicles 10–20 cm long, terminal, elliptic, partially included in 

the sheath, branches bearded in axils. Spikelets 10 mm long, lanceolate, subterete; lemmas 5 mm long, central awns 8–10 mm 

long, feathery, without a column. Habitat: sandy soils. Distribution: (Nv, Nn, Da, Di, Ol) Libya.

255. Stipellula capensis (Thunb.) 

Röser & H. R. Hamasha

FIGURE 264

Stipellula capensis (Thunb.) Röser & H. R. Hamasha, Schlechtendalia 24: 92. 2012. [Stipella capensis (Thunb.) Röser & 

H. R. Hamasha; Stipa capensis Thunb.] 

Common names: abu nakhour, sabad, sabat, safsoof, teirra; 

Mediterranean steppe grass, twisted-awned spear grass.

FIGURE 264. Stipellula capensis. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and 

blade. C. Spikelet. A, C drawn from Hefnawy s.n. (CAI); B drawn 

from M. Winkler s.n. (US-1649517).

FIGURE 263. Stipagrostis vulnerans. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, 

and blade. C. Culm and inflorescence. D. Spikelet. A drawn from 

V. Täckholm s.n. (CAI); B–D drawn from W. Schimper s.n.

(US-1126510).
164 • SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO BOTANY

Caespitose annuals. Culms 10–30 cm tall, decumbent; 

internodes pubescent; butt sheaths glabrous. Leaves mostly 

basal; sheaths longer than adjacent internodes, flattened, glabrous or pubescent, margins smooth; oral hairs present; ligules 

1–2 mm long, membranous, apex truncate; blades 4–15 cm 

long, 1–1.5 mm wide, bristlelike, straight, stiff, sparsely hairy, 

margins ciliate, apex acuminate. Panicles 5–15 cm long, about 

1 cm wide, partially included in the sheath. Spikelets 10–20 mm 

long, lanceolate, subterete; lemmas 5.5–9 mm long including the 

pungent callus 1.7–3.5 mm long, coriaceous, awned, the awn 

60–130 mm long, bigeniculate, feathery, column twisted. Habitat: coastal sand, deserts, and rocky slopes. Distribution: (Mm, 

Ms, Nv, Dl, Dg, Da, Di, S, Rq, Rz) Mediterranean to NW India, 

S Africa.

256. Stipellula parviflora (Desf.) 

Röser & H. R. Hamasha

FIGURE 265

Stipellula parviflora (Desf.) Röser & H. R. Hamasha, Schlechtendalia 24: 92. 2012. [Stipella parviflora (Desf.) Röser & 

H. R. Hamasha; Stipa parviflora Desf.] 

Common names: sabal abu el Hussein, safsoof.

Densely caespitose perennials. Culms 30–70(–80) cm tall, 

erect; internodes glabrous; butt sheaths glabrous. Leaves mostly 

basal; sheaths glabrous, margins smooth; ligules about 2.5 mm 

long, membranous, smooth; blades 10–20 cm long, 3–7 mm 

wide, convolute or bristlelike, straight, stiff, scaberulous, margins ciliate, apex attenuate. Panicles 10–20 cm long, open, elliptic, effuse, partially included in the sheath. Spikelets 10–15 mm 

long, lanceolate, subterete; lemmas 5–6.5 mm long including the 

pungent callus 0.9–1.2 mm long, coriaceous, awned, the awns 

70–100 mm long, bigeniculate, column twisted. Habitat: rocky 

slopes and sandy areas. Distribution: (Mm, Ms, Dg, Di, S) Mediterranean to Iran.

257. Taeniatherum caput-medusae (L.) Nevski

FIGURE 266

Taeniatherum caput-medusae (L.) Nevski, Trudy Sredne-Aziatsk. 

Gosud. Univ., ser. 8b, Bot. 17: 38. 1934.

Common names: abu hareiba, safsouf; medusahead rye.

Caespitose perennials. Culms 5–15 cm tall, erect, geniculate, glabrous; butt sheaths glabrous. Leaves basal and cauline; 

sheaths flattened, ribbed, pilose, margins scabrous; auricles 

clawlike; ligules 1 mm long, membranous; blades 5–15 cm long, 

2–3 mm wide, linear, convolute, ascending, pilose, margins ciliate, apex acuminate. Inflorescence a single, bilateral, terminal 

spike; spikes 3–7 cm long. Spikelets 8–12 mm long, in pairs, 

linear, dorsally compressed; lemmas 8–12 mm long, awned, the 

awns 7–12 cm long, straight, bristly. Habitat: sandy desert. Distribution: (S) Europe and temperate Asia.

258. Tetrapogon cenchriformis (A. Rich.) 

Clayton

FIGURE 267

Tetrapogon cenchriformis (A. Rich.) Clayton, Kew Bull. 16: 250. 

1962.

Caespitose annuals or short-lived perennials. Culms 

30–60 cm tall, erect, geniculate, glabrous; nodes dark; butt 

sheaths glabrous. Leaves basal and cauline; sheaths ribbed, glabrous, keeled or flattened basally, margins scabrous; oral hairs 

present; collars dark colored; ligules a ciliolate membrane; blades 

3–12 cm long, 2–4 mm wide, linear, filiform, convolute, spreading, hairy on the basal 1⁄3, margins smooth, apex obtuse. Racemes 

3–6 cm long, single or paired, ascending, unilateral, subtended by 

an inflated leaf sheath. Spikelets 7–12 mm long, cuneate, laterally 

FIGURE 265. Stipellula parviflora. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and 

blade. C. Inflorescence. D. Glumes. E. Floret. A drawn from Shabetai 3243 (CAI); B–E drawn from C. Aurich & H. Forther s.n. (US3343376).
NUMBER 103 • 165

compressed, surrounded by hairs; lemmas 4–6 mm long, awned, 

the awns 2–8 mm long, straight. Habitat: rocky slopes. Distribution: (Ge) Micronesia, tropical Africa, and Arabia.

259. Tetrapogon villosus Desv.

FIGURE 268

Tetrapogon villosus Desf., Fl. Atlant. 2: 389, pl. 255. 1799.

Densely caespitose perennials. Culms 20–40 cm tall, erect, 

geniculate, glabrous; nodes dark; butt sheaths glabrous. Leaves 

basal and cauline; sheaths ribbed, glabrous, margins smooth; ligules 1–2 mm long, a ciliolate membrane; blades 3–8 cm long, 

1–2 mm wide, linear, filiform, convolute, spreading, hairy on the 

basal 1⁄3, margins ciliate, apex obtuse. Inflorescence composed of 

1 or 2 digitate racemes, terminal, partially included in the sheath; 

racemes 2–8 cm long, unilateral. Spikelets 3–4 mm long, cuneate, 

laterally compressed, surrounded by hairs; lemmas 3–3.5 mm 

long, awned, the awns 2–4 mm long, straight. Habitat: rocky 

slopes. Distribution: (Ms, Dg, Di, S, Ge) N and NE Africa to 

Arabia to India.

260. Themeda triandra Forssk.

FIGURE 269

Themeda triandra Forssk., Fl. Aegypt.-Arab. 178. 1775. 

Common names: kangaroo grass, red oatgrass.

Caespitose perennials. Culms 30–200 cm tall, erect, geniculate, glabrous; nodes bearded; butt sheaths glabrous, withering. 

FIGURE 267.Tetrapogon cenchriformis. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, 

and blade. C. Inflorescence. D. Spikelet. A drawn from B. Fruman 

3459 (CAI); B–D drawn from G. Schweinfurth 582 (US-1259634).

FIGURE 266. Taeniatherum caput-medusae. A. Habit. B. Ligule, 

sheath, and blade. C. Two spikelets. A drawn from N. El Hadidi s.n.

(CAI); B, C drawn from J. B. Gillett 8278 (US-2209402).
166 • SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO BOTANY

Leaves basal and cauline; sheaths flattened, glabrous, margins 

scabrous; ligules 1–2 mm long, a ciliolate membrane; blades 

10–30 cm long, 1–4 mm wide linear, ascending, glabrous, margins smooth, apex acute. Inflorescences 10–30 cm long, composed of terminal and axillary racemes, subtended by a spatheole; 

spatheoles 1.5–3.5 cm long, lanceolate, scarious, brown or red, 

sometimes tuberculate. Spikelets 6–11 mm long, in threes, elliptic, subterete, surrounded by hairs; fertile florets 6–11 mm long, 

sessile, awned, the awns 25–70 mm long, terminal, geniculate, 

bristly. Habitat: sandy and stony slopes. Distribution: (Nv) tropical and subtropical Old World.

261. Themeda villosa* (Poir.) A. Camus

FIGURE 270

Themeda villosa* (Poir.) A. Camus, Fl. Indo-Chine 7: 364. 1922.

Caespitose perennials. Culms 2–3 m tall, robust, erect, geniculate; internodes glabrous; butt sheaths glabrous, withering. 

Leaves basal and cauline; sheaths flattened, keeled, glabrous, 

margins scabrous; oral hairs present; ligules 1–2 mm long, a ciliate membrane; blades 50–100 cm long, 5–25 mm wide, linear, 

ascending, glabrous, margins smooth, apex acute. Inflorescences 

30–60 cm long, composed of terminal and axillary racemes, subtended by a spatheole; spatheoles 2.5–3.5 cm long, lanceolate, 

FIGURE 268. Tetrapogon villosus. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and 

blade. C. Inflorescence. D. Spikelet. A drawn from V. Täckholm, 

M. Kassas, H. Fawzy, F. Shalaby & M. Zahran 1022 (CAI); B–D 

drawn from W. Burger 622 (US-2465208).

FIGURE 269. Themeda triandra. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and 

blade. C. Spikelet cluster. A drawn from Ibrahim 2405 (CAI), 

M.Kassas 547 (CAI);B, C drawn from E. Christie s.n. (US-2014264).
NUMBER 103 • 167

scarious, green, glabrous. Spikelets 7–8 mm long, in pairs, elliptic, dorsally compressed, surrounded by hairs; fertile florets 

sessile, unawned or awned, the awns up to 10 mm long, geniculate, bristly. Habitat: cultivated, ornamental grass, introduced. 

Distribution: (Mm) native to India and SE Asia.

262. Tragus berteronianus Schult.

FIGURE 271

Tragus berteronianus Schult., Mant. 2: 205. 1824. 

Common names: harroay; spiked bur grass.

Caespitose annuals. Culms 5–20 cm tall, erect, geniculate, 

glabrous; butt sheaths glabrous, withering. Leaves basal and 

cauline, sheaths longer than blades, glabrous, margins sparsely 

hairy; oral hairs present; ligule a fringe of hairs; blades 1–5 cm 

long, 1–5 mm wide, lanceolate, flat, scabrous, margins ciliate, 

bases cordate, apex acute. Inflorescences 2–7.5 cm long, composed of numerous racemes borne along a central axis, closely 

spaced in a multilateral false spike, spreading, oblong; racemes 

3–7 mm long. Spikelets 2–3 mm long, lanceolate, subterete; lemmas 1.5–2.5 mm long, awnless. Habitat: wadi beds. Distribution: (Da, Ra, Sa, Ge) Africa, SW Asia, China, and America.

263. Tragus racemosus (L.) All.

FIGURE 272

Tragus racemosus (L.) All., Fl. Pedem. 2: 241. 1785. 

Common names: areibi; stalked bur grass.

FIGURE 270. Themeda villosa. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and 

blade. C. Inflorescence. D. Spikelet cluster. A drawn from M. Kassas 

547 (CAI); B, D drawn from D. Clayton 5361 (US-2590594A); C 

modified from Ibrahim and Kabuye (1988).

FIGURE 271. Tragus berteronianus. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and 

blade. C. Spikelet. A drawn from V. Täckholm, M. Kassas, M. Zahran, M. Samy & A. Girgis 560 (CAI); B drawn from A. S. Hitchcock 

24840 (US-1447214); C modified from Hitchcock (1951).
168 • SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO BOTANY

Caespitose annuals. Culms 5–20 cm tall, erect, geniculate, 

glabrous; butt sheaths glabrous, withering. Leaves basal and cauline; sheath longer than blade, glabrous, margins membranous; 

oral hairs present; ligule a fringe of hairs; blades 3–5 cm long, 

2–5 mm wide, lanceolate, flat, scabrous, margins ciliate, apex 

acute. Inflorescences 2–7.5 cm long, composed of numerous racemes borne along a central axis, closely spaced in a multilateral 

false spike, spreading; racemes 0.4–0.9 cm long, cuneate, bearing 2–4 fertile spikelets. Spikelets 4–5.5 mm long, lanceolate, 

dorsally compressed; lemmas 3.5–5 mm long, awnless. Habitat: 

sandy and stony ground. Distribution: (Ra. Da, Ge) Europe, 

temperate Asia and tropical N Africa.

264. Tricholaena teneriffae (L.f.) Link

FIGURE 273

Tricholaena teneriffae (L.f.) Link, Handbuch 1: 91. 1829. 

Common names: sabat, yaraab.

Caespitose perennial. Culms 10–90 cm tall, erect, geniculate, wiry; from woody rootstock; internodes pubescent; butt 

sheaths glabrous, persistent. Leaves basal and cauline; sheaths 

sparsely hairy, margins scabrous; ligule a fringe of hairs; blades 

5–15 cm long, 1–5 mm wide, linear, involute, wiry, glabrous or 

pubescent, margins scabrous, apex acute. Panicles 5–15 cm long, 

1–4 cm wide, breaking up at maturity. Spikelets 2.5–3.5 mm 

long, laterally compressed; fertile lemmas 2–3 mm long, dorsally 

compressed, awnless. Habitat: sandy and stony desert. Distribution: (Dg, Da, Di, S, Ra, Ge) Micronesia to India.

265. Trichoneura mollis (Kunth) Ekman

FIGURE 274

Trichoneura mollis (Kunth) Ekman, Ark. Bot. 11(9): 10. 1912.

FIGURE 273. Tricholaena teneriffae. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, 

and blade. C. Spikelet. A drawn from V. Täckholm, M. Kassas, 

H. Fawzy, F. Shalaby, M. Samy & M. Zahran 743 (CAI); B, C 

drawn from J. Pitrad s.n. (US-1130007).

FIGURE 272. Tragus racemosus. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and 

blade. C. Spikelet. A, B drawn from R. J. Rodin 3620 (US-1983592), 

A. Pappi s.n. (US-1984347); C modified from Wipff (2003b).
NUMBER 103 • 169

Caespitose annuals. Culms 5–20 cm tall, erect, geniculate; 

internodes glabrous; butt sheaths glabrous. Leaves basal and 

cauline; sheaths sparsely hairy, margins membranous; ligules 

1–2 mm long, membranous, apex erose, serrate; blades 2–15 cm 

long, 1–5 mm wide, linear, flat or involute, spreading, glabrous 

to pilose, margins scabrous, apex acute. Inflorescences 5–25 cm 

long with 10–40 racemes located along central axis; racemes 

1.5–4(–5) cm long. Spikelets 6.2–8 mm long, cuneate, laterally 

compressed; lower glumes 4.6–7 mm long, 1-awned, the awns 

1–2 mm long; lemmas 2.5–3.5 mm long, mucronate or awned, 

the awns up to 2 mm long. Habitat: sandy soils. Distribution: 

(Da, Ra, Ge) tropical Africa and Arabia.

266. Triplachne nitens (Guss.) Link

FIGURE 275

Triplachne nitens (Guss.) Link, Hort. Berol. 2: 241. 1833.

Caespitose annuals. Culms 5–25 cm tall, erect, geniculate, 

glabrous, ribbed; nodes dark; butt sheaths glabrous, withering. 

Leaves basal and cauline; sheaths flattened, keeled, glabrous, 

ribbed, margins membranous; auricles clawlike; ligules 1–3 mm 

long, a ciliate membrane; blades 1–7 cm long, 1–3 mm wide, flat, 

spreading, scabrous, margins cartilaginous, apex acute. Panicles 

1–5 cm long, 0.5–1.3 cm wide, spiciform, linear, ovate to ovoid. 

Spikelets 3.5–4 mm long, lanceolate, laterally compressed; lemmas 1.2–1.5 mm long, 3-awned, central awns 3–4 mm long, 

geniculate, column twisted. Habitat: sandy soils. Distribution: 

(Mm, Ms) Mediterranean.

FIGURE 274. Trichoneura mollis. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and 

blade. C. Spikelet. A drawn from V. Täckholm, M. Kassas, H. Fawzy, 

F. Shalaby, M. Samy & M. Zahran 1526 (CAI); B, C drawn from

W. Schimper (US-1126174), Napper 550 (US-2379660).

FIGURE 275. Triplachne nitens. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, 

and blade. C. Glumes and floret. A–C drawn from R. Soreng & 

N. Soreng 3775 (US-3561051).
170 • SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO BOTANY

267. Triraphis pumilio R. Br.

FIGURE 276

Triraphis pumilio R. Br., Narr. Travels Africa 245. 1826. 

Common name: za’bal.

Caespitose annuals. Culms 5–25 cm tall, erect, geniculate; internodes glabrous; butt sheaths glabrous. Leaves basal 

and cauline; sheaths flattened, hairy, margins sparsely hairy; 

oral hairs present; ligule a fringe of hairs; blades 3–8 cm long, 

1–3 mm wide, linear, convolute, scabrous, margins scabrous, 

apex filiform. Panicles 0.6–8 cm long, 0.4–2 cm wide, spiciform, 

glomerate, oblong or ovate, exserted or partially included in the 

sheath. Spikelets 4–6 mm long, lanceolate, laterally compressed; 

lemmas 2–3 mm long, 3-awned, central awns 1.5–2.5 mm long. 

Habitat: wadi beds. Distribution: (Da, Ra, Ge) tropical Africa 

and Arabia.

268. Trisetaria glumacea (Boiss.) Maire

FIGURE 277

Trisetaria glumacea (Boiss.) Maire, Bull. Soc. Hist. Nat. Afr. 

Nord. 33: 93. 1942.

Caespitose annuals. Culms 5–15 cm tall, erect, geniculate; 

internodes glabrous, ribbed; nodes dark; butt sheaths glabrous, 

withering. Leaves basal and cauline; sheaths pubescent, margins 

smooth; ligules 1–2 mm long, a ciliate membrane; blades 6–7 cm 

long, 1–2 mm wide, lanceolate, flat, curly or straight, spreading, 

pilose on both sides, margins scabrous, apex acuminate. Panicles 

2–5 cm long, 1–1.5 cm wide, contracted, lanceolate or oblong. 

FIGURE 277. Trisetaria glumacea. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and 

blade. C. Spikelet. A–C drawn from G. Täckholm s.n. (CAI).

FIGURE 276. Triraphis pumilio. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, 

and blade. C. Spikelet. A drawn from V. Täckholm, M. Kassas, 

M. Samy, M. Zahran & W. Girgis 287 (CAI); B, C drawn from 

H. G. Schweickert 2242 (US-2461910).
NUMBER 103 • 171

Spikelets 4–5 mm long, cuneate, laterally compressed; lemmas 

2–2.5 mm long, 3-awned, central awns 2.5–3 mm long, inserted 

below the middle, geniculate, column twisted column. Habitat: 

sandy soils and limestone rocks. Distribution: (Mm, Ms, Di) 

Syria and Palestine.

269. Trisetaria koelerioides (Bornm. & Hack.) 

Melderis

FIGURE 278

Trisetaria koelerioides (Bornm. & Hack.) Melderis, Ark. Bot., 

n.s., 2: 292. 1952. 

Caespitose annuals. Culms 10–25 cm tall, erect, geniculate; 

internodes hirsute; butt sheaths sparsely hairy, withering. Leaves 

basal and cauline; sheaths hairy, margins hairy; oral hairs present; 

ligules 1–3 mm long, membranous, apex erose, serrate; blades 

1–7 cm long, 1–2 mm wide, involute, spreading, hirsute, margins ciliate, apex acute. Panicles 4–8 cm long, 1–1.5 cm wide, 

spiciform, contracted, lanceolate or oblong, partially included in 

the sheath. Spikelets 6–7 mm long, cuneate, laterally compressed; 

lemmas 3.5–4 mm long, apex entire, mucronate or awned, the 

awns up to 2 mm long, geniculate, column twisted. Habitat: 

coastal sand. Distribution: (Ms) Syria, Palestine, and Lebanon.

270. Trisetaria linearis Forssk.

FIGURE 279

Trisetaria linearis Forssk., Fl. Aegypt.-Arab. 60. 1775.

FIGURE 278. Trisetaria koelerioides. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, 

and blade. C. Glumes and florets. A drawn from L. Boulos 235 

(CAI); B, C drawn from J. Bornmuller 1654 (US-1109458).

FIGURE 279. Trisetaria linearis. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and 

blade. C. Spikelet. A drawn from M. Gibali 196 (CAI); B drawn 

from L. Ehrenberg (US-326084); C drawn from Cope (2005).
172 • SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO BOTANY

Caespitose annuals. Culms 10–30 cm tall, erect, geniculate, scabrous; butt sheaths woolly. Leaves basal and cauline; sheaths longer 

than blades, flattened, pubescent, margins hairy; ligules 1–3 mm 

long, membranous, apex erose; blades 1–7 m long, 1–2 mm wide, 

linear, conduplicate, spreading, pubescent, margins scabrous, apex 

acute. Panicles 5–10 cm long, 0.5–1 cm wide, spiciform, linear, subtended by an inflated leaf sheath. Spikelets 5–10 mm long, cuneate, laterally compressed; lemmas 3.5–7 mm long, 3-awned, central 

awns 8–10 mm long, geniculate, column twisted. Habitat: sandy 

dunes. Distribution: (Ms, Mp, Nv) N Africa and SW Asia.

271. Trisetaria macrochaeta (Boiss.) Maire

FIGURE 280

Trisetaria macrochaeta (Boiss.) Maire, Bull. Soc. Hist. Nat. Afrique N. 33(4): 92. 1942.

Solitary annuals. Culms 10–20 cm tall, erect, geniculate; 

internodes hirsute; butt sheaths sparsely hairy, withering with 

age. Leaves basal and cauline; sheaths longer than the blades, 

glabrous, margins scabrous; oral hairs present; ligules 0.5–1 mm 

long, membranous, lacerate; blades 4–8 mm long, 1–2 mm wide, 

linear, convolute, spreading, midrib conspicuous, sparsely hairy, 

margins scabrous, apex acute. Panicles 1–7 cm long, 0.5–3.5 cm 

wide, contracted, included in the sheath; primary branches 0.5–3 

cm long. Spikelets 3.5–4 mm long, cuneate, laterally compressed; 

glumes 0.5 mm long, 1-awned; lemmas 1.7–2.5 mm long, 

3-awned, central awns 5–7 mm long, geniculate, column twisted. 

Habitat: sandy and rocky ground. Distribution: (Nv, Da, Di) Palestine, Libya, and Spain.

272. Triticum aestivum* L. subsp. aestivum

FIGURE 281

Triticum aestivum* L., Sp. Pl. 1: 85. 1753. 

Common names: qamh hindi, qamh taliani; bread wheat.

FIGURE 281. Triticum aestivum. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and 

blade. C. Inflorescence. D. Spikelet. A–C modified from Hitchcock 

(1951); D drawn from L. B. Smith s.n. (US-1963579). Triticum dicoccum. E.Inflorescence. F. Spikelet. E, F modified from Morrison (2007).

FIGURE 280. Trisetaria macrochaeta. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, 

and blade. C. Two spikelets. A drawn from K. Khalifa & N. Sherif 

3911 (CAI); B, C drawn from J. Bornmuller (US-1109459).
NUMBER 103 • 173

Caespitose annuals. Culms 60–100 cm tall, erect, geniculate; internodes glabrous; nodes bearded; butt sheaths glabrous. 

Leaves basal and cauline; sheaths glabrous, ribbed, margins 

smooth; auricles clawlike; collars dark; ligules 1–3 mm long, 

membranous, apex truncate; blades 10–60 cm long, 10–15 mm 

wide, linear; flat; spreading, sparsely hairy, margins scabrous, 

apex acute. Inflorescence a single, bilateral spike; spikes 5–18 cm 

long, linear or oblong. Spikelets 10–15 mm long, 9–18 mm wide, 

ovate, laterally compressed; glumes 6–12 mm long; lemmas 

10–15 mm long, unawned or awned, the awns up to 15 cm long, 

straight, bristly. Habitat: cultivated cereal. Distribution: (Mm, 

Nv, Di, Ol) throughout the world.

273. Triticum dicoccum* Schrank ex Schübl.

FIGURE 281

Triticum dicoccum* Schrank ex Schübl., Diss. Char. Descr. 

Cereal 29. 1818. [Triticum aestivum L. subsp. dicoccum

(Schrank ex Schübl.) Thell.] 

Common name: emmer wheat.

Caespitose annuals. Culms up to 180 cm long, erect, geniculate; internodes glabrous or pubescent at nodes, thick walled or 

solid throughout; butt sheaths glabrous. Leaves basal and cauline; sheaths glabrous, margins hairy; auricles clawlike; oral hairs 

present; ligules 1–3 mm long, membranous, apex erose, truncate; 

blades 30–60 cm long, 10–20 mm wide, linear, flat, spreading, 

scaberulous, margins scabrous, apex acuminate. Inflorescence a 

single, bilateral spike; spikes 3–10 cm long, 10–13 mm wide. 

Spikelets 9–12 mm long, laterally compressed, oblong, laterally compressed; glumes 6–10 mm long; lemmas 9–12 mm long, 

awned, the awns 10–15 cm long, straight, bristly. Habitat: cultivated cereal. Distribution: (Mm, Nv, Di, Ol) S and E Europe, 

temperate Asia.

274. Triticum durum* Desf.

FIGURE 282

Triticum durum* Desf., Fl. Atlant. 1: 114. 1798. 

Common names: qamh dakar; durum wheat.

Caespitose annuals. Culms up to 150 cm tall, thick walled, 

sometimes solid, erect, geniculate below; internodes glabrous; 

nodes dark; butt sheaths glabrous. Leaves basal and cauline; 

sheaths glabrous, ribbed, margins membranous; auricles clawlike; collar dark; ligules 1–3 mm long, membranous, apex 

truncate; blades 10–60 cm long, 10–15 mm wide, linear, flat, 

spreading, sparsely hairy or glabrous, margins entire, apex 

acute. Inflorescence a single, bilateral spike; spikes 4–11 cm 

long. Spikelets 10–15 mm long, 8–15 mm wide, oblong, laterally compressed; glumes 8–12 mm long; lemmas 10–12 mm 

long, awned, the awns 8–15 cm long, straight, bristly. Habitat: 

cultivated cereal. Distribution: (Mm, Nv, Nn) Europe and temperate Asia.

275. Triticum pyramidale Percival

FIGURE 283

Triticum pyramidale Percival, Wheat Pl. Monogr. 156, 262, f. 

161–162. 1921.

Common name: qamh baladi.

Caespitose annuals. Culms up to100 cm tall, thick walled, 

sometimes solid, erect, geniculate; internodes glabrous; nodes 

dark; butt sheaths glabrous. Leaves basal and cauline; sheaths 

glabrous, margins membranous; auricles clawlike; collars dark; 

ligules 1–3 mm long, membranous, apex truncate; blades 10–60 

cm long, 10–15 mm wide, linear, flat, spreading, glabrous to 

sparsely hairy, hairy when young, margins entire, apex acute. 

Inflorescence a single, bilateral spike; spikes 4.5–6 cm long, 

FIGURE 282. Triticum turgidum. A. Ligule, sheath, and blade. B.

Inflorescence. C. Spikelet. A drawn from J. Pfund (US-805902); B, C 

modified from Morrison (2007). Triticum durum. D. Ligule, sheath, 

and blade. E. Inflorescence. F. Spikelet. D drawn from H. G. Tedd 

s.n. (US-1815398); E, F modified from Morrison (2007).
174 • SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO BOTANY

pyramidal. Spikelets 10–15 mm long, 8–15 mm wide, oblong, 

laterally compressed; glumes 8–10 mm long; lemmas 10–12 mm 

long, awned, the awns 9–17 cm long, straight, scabrid. Habitat: 

cultivated cereal. Distribution: (Mm, Nv) Egypt and Ethiopia.

276. Triticum turgidum* L.

FIGURE 282

Triticum turgidum* L., Sp. Pl. 1: 86. 1753. 

Common names: fino, saba’ rus; durum wheat.

Caespitose annuals. Culms 90–150 cm tall, thick walled 

and sometimes solid, erect, geniculate below; internodes glabrous; butt sheaths glabrous. Leaves basal and cauline; sheaths 

glabrous, ribbed, margins membranous; oral hairs present; auricles clawlike; ligules 1–3 mm long, membranous, apex truncate; 

blades 10–60 cm long, 10–15 mm wide, linear, flat, spreading, 

pubescent, margins scabrous, bases amplexicaul, apex acute. Inflorescence a single, bilateral spike; spikes 7–10 mm long, oblong or ovate. Spikelets 10–13 mm long, 8–15 mm wide, packed 

broadside to the rachis, persistent; glumes 8–11 mm long; lemmas 

10–13 mm long, awned, the awns 8–16 cm long, straight, bristly. 

Habitat: cultivated cereal. Distribution: (Nv, Nn) Mediterranean 

region, C Asia, Siberia, S. Africa, Australia, and America.

277. Urochloa deflexa (Schumach.) H. Scholz

FIGURE 284

Urochloa deflexa (Schumach.) H. Scholz, Bull. Mus. Natl. Hist. 

Nat., B, Adansonia, sér. 4, 11(4): 443. 1990. [Brachiaria 

deflexa (Schumach) C. E. Hubb. ex Robyns.] 

Common names: belleib, rokeib, yadaab; annual brachiaria.

FIGURE 283. Triticum pyramidale. A. Habit. B. Spikelet. C. Floret 

and caryopsis. A–C modified from Raffeneau-Delile (1813).

FIGURE 284. Urochloa deflexa. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and 

blade. C. Spikelets with lower glume (left) and upper glume (right). 

A modified from Ibrahim and Kabuye (1988); B, C drawn from

R. Tanner 2021 (US-2473041), A. Stolz 1818 (US-1163363).
NUMBER 103 • 175

Caespitose annuals. Culms 15–35 cm tall, erect, often weak, 

ascending; internodes glabrous; butt sheaths glabrous. Leaves 

mostly cauline; sheaths hairy, margins hairy; ligules 1 mm long, 

a fringe of hairs; blades 2–10 cm long, 2–4 mm wide, broadly 

linear-lanceolate, flat, ascending, sparsely hairy, margins ciliate, apex acute. Panicles 6–15 cm long, terminal, composed of 

7–15 racemes borne along a central axis, unilateral; racemes 

0.5–2.5 cm long; rachis wingless, angular. Spikelets 2.5–3.5 cm 

long, in pairs, elliptic, dorsally compressed, apex acute; lower 

glumes 1⁄3 to 1⁄2 as long as the spikelet; upper lemmas rugose, 

awnless. Habitat: sandy wadis and seashores. Distribution: (De, 

Ra, Rq, Rz, Ge) tropical and S Africa, India.

278. Urochloa leersioides (Hochst.) 

H. Scholz & Valdés

FIGURE 285

Urochloa leersioides (Hochst.) H. Scholz & Valdés, Willdenowia 

36(2): 663. 2006. [Brachiaria leersioides (Hochst.) Stapf.]

Common name: blue signal grass.

Caespitose annuals. Culms 15–70 cm tall, erect, geniculate; internodes pubescent; butt sheaths sparingly hairy. Leaves 

mostly cauline; sheaths longer than blades, pilose, margins hairy; 

ligules 1–3 mm long, a ciliolate membrane; blades 2–20 cm long, 

2–5 mm wide, linear, flat, spreading, glabrous, margins smooth, 

apex attenuate, filiform. Panicles 3–20 cm long with 3–14 racemes borne along a central axis; racemes 1–7 cm long, deflexed 

or spreading, unilateral; rachis wingless, angular. Spikelets 

2–3.5 mm long, in pairs, elliptic, dorsally compressed, apex subacute; lower glumes 1⁄3 to 1⁄2 as long as spikelet; upper lemmas 

coarsely rugose, awnless. Habitat: sandy wadis. Distribution: 

(Ge) tropical Africa and Arabia.

279. Urochloa mutica (Forssk.) T. Q. Nguyen

FIGURE 286

Urochloa mutica (Forssk.) T. Q. Nguyen, Novosti Sist. Vyssh. 

Rast. 1966: 13. 1966. [Brachiaria mutica (Forssk.) Stapf.]

FIGURE 286. Urochloa mutica. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and 

blade. C. Inflorescence. D. Segment of inflorescence. E. Spikelets 

showing lower (left) and upper (right) glumes. A drawn from 

A. Amer 15425 (CAI); B–D drawn from G. Schweinfurth s.n.

(US-823874), C. Mez (US-1649625); E modified from Wipff and 

Thompson (2003a).

FIGURE 285. Urochloa leersioides. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and 

blade. C. Inflorescence. D. Spikelets with upper (right) and lower 

(left) glumes. A, C modified from Ibrahim and Kabuye (1988); B 

drawn from V. Täckholm 119 (CAI); D modified from Cope (2005).
176 • SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO BOTANY

Common names: adar hamoreit, ausiba, hashish rukeb, moddeid, rukeiba; para grass.

Caespitose perennials. Culms 25–130 cm tall, erect, geniculate, rooting at lower nodes; internodes glabrous, straw colored; 

nodes swollen; butt sheaths glabrous. Leaves mostly cauline; 

sheaths longer than blades, hairy, margins glabrous; ligules 

1–3 mm long, a fringe of hairs; blades 5–20 cm long, 5–6 mm 

wide, broadly linear, flat, spreading, sparingly hairy, margins 

wavy, ciliate, apex acute. Panicles 7–20 cm long with 5–20 racemes borne along a central axis; racemes 2–10 cm long, unilateral, simple or secondarily branched; rachis broadly winged, 

margins scabrous. Spikelets 2.5–3.5 mm long, elliptic, dorsally 

compressed, apex acute; lower glumes 1⁄4 to 1⁄3 as long as spikelet; upper lemmas rugulose, awnless. Habitat: canal banks and 

ditches. Distribution: (Mm, Ms, Nv) tropics.

280. Urochloa panicoides* P. Beauv.

FIGURE 287

Urochloa panicoides* P. Beauv., Ess. Agrostogr. 53, pl. 11, f. 1. 

1812. 

Common names: nesila; liverseed grass.

Caespitose annuals. Culms 60–100 cm tall, erect, geniculate; 

internodes glabrous; often lower nodes rooting; butt sheaths glabrous. Leaves basal and cauline; sheaths sparsely hairy, margins 

hairy; oral hairs present; ligule a fringe of hairs; blades 2–25 cm 

long, 5–15 mm wide, linear, flat, spreading, glabrous, margins 

tuberculate-ciliate, bases amplexicaul, apex acute. Panicles 

1–9 cm long with 2–7(–10) racemes borne along a central axis; 

racemes 1–7 cm long, unilateral; rachis narrowly winged. Spikelets (2.5–)3.5–4.5(–5.5) mm long, elliptic, dorsally compressed, 

plano-convex, apex acute; lower glumes 1⁄4 to 1⁄2 as long as 

spikelet; upper lemmas rugulose, apex mucronate, the mucro 

0.3–1 mm long. Habitat: weed of cultivation. Distribution: (Nv) 

tropical E Africa, S Africa, Arabia, and India.

281. Urochloa ramosa (L.) T. Q. Nguyen 

FIGURE 288

Urochloa ramosa (L.) T. Q. Nguyen, Novosti Sist. Vyssh. Rast. 

1966: 13. 1966. [Brachiaria ramosa (L.) Stapf.]

Common names: bilbil, yadab; browntop millet.

Caespitose annuals. Culms 7–50 cm tall, decumbent; internodes glabrous; butt sheaths glabrous. Leaves mostly cauline; 

sheaths longer than adjacent internodes, glabrous, margins 

glabrous; ligules 1 mm long, a fringe of hairs; blades 2–10 cm 

long, 2–4 mm wide, lanceolate, flat, ascending, sparingly hairy, 

margins ciliate, apex acute. Panicles 3–10 cm long with 3–15 

racemes borne along a central axis; racemes 1–8 cm long, unilateral, simple or branched at base; rachis wingless, angular. Spikelets 2.5–3.5 mm long, in pairs, elliptic, dorsally compressed, 

apex acute or cuspidate; lower glumes 1⁄3 to 1⁄2 as long as spikelet; upper lemmas rugose, awnless. Habitat: moist sandy soils. 

Distribution: (Ge) tropical Asia and S Africa.

282. Urochloa reptans* (L.) Stapf

FIGURE 289

Urochloa reptans* (L.) Stapf, Fl. Trop. Afr. 9: 601. 1920. [Brachiaria reptans (L.) C. A. Gardner & C. E. Hubb.] 

Common names: nissiela; running grass.

Caespitose annuals. Culms 10–50 cm tall, decumbent, rooting at lower nodes; internodes glabrous, striate; nodes dark; butt 

sheaths glabrous. Leaves basal and cauline; sheaths longer than 

FIGURE 287. Urochloa panicoides. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, 

and blade. C. Spikelets with upper (right) and lower (left) glumes. A 

drawn from B. Promän 3940 (CAI); B, C drawn from R. Stony s.n. 

(US-3193073).
NUMBER 103 • 177

adjacent internodes, glabrous, margins smooth; ligules 1 mm 

long, a fringe of hairs; blades 2.5–6 cm long, 3–10 mm wide, 

lanceolate, flat, ascending, glabrous, margins ciliate, wavy, bases 

cordate, apex acute. Panicles 1–8 cm long with 5–15 racemes 

borne along a central axis; racemes 1–4 cm long, unilateral; rachis wingless, angular. Spikelets 1.5–2.2 mm, crowded, regular, 

2-rowed, elliptic or oblong, dorsally compressed, apex acute; 

lower glumes 1⁄4 as long as spikelet; uppers lemmas rugose, apex 

acute to mucronate, awnless. Habitat: weed in cultivated and 

waste ground. Distribution: (Ms, Nv, Da) tropical Asia, Arabia, 

and tropical Africa.

283. Vossia cuspidata (Roxb.) Griff.

FIGURE 290

Vossia cuspidata (Roxb.) Griff., Not. Pl. Asiat. 3, Index 12. 

1851. 

Common name: hippo grass.

Aquatic, spongy perennial with elongated rhizomes and fibrous roots. Culms up to 200 cm tall, out of water, erect, geniculate; internodes glabrous; nodes dark, lower nodes rooting; 

butt sheaths glabrous. Leaves basal and cauline; sheaths longer 

than adjacent internodes, flattened, glabrous, margins smooth; 

ligules 1–3 mm long, a ciliolate membrane; blades 30–100 cm 

long, 5–20 mm wide, linear, flat, spreading, scabrous, margins 

FIGURE 289. Urochloa reptans. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and 

blade. C. Spikelets with upper (right) and lower (left) glumes. A 

drawn from A. Amer 13037 (CAI); B, C drawn from T. E. Vaughan 

(US-1271777).

FIGURE 288.Urochloa ramosa. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and 

blade. C. Segment of inflorescence. D. Spikelets showing (upper) and 

(lower) glumes. A, C modified from Ibrahim and Kabuye (1988); B, 

D drawn from A. P. G. Mickelmore (US-2975886).
178 • SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO BOTANY

scabrous, apex attenuate. Inflorescence with 1–12 digitately 

inserted racemes; racemes 10–30 cm long. Spikelets 20–40 cm 

long, in pairs, ovate, dorsally compressed; lower glumes with 

a long caudate apex; lemmas awnless. Habitat: water courses. 

Distribution: (Nv, Nn) tropical Africa and India.

284. Zea mays* L.

FIGURE 291

Zea mays* L., Sp. Pl. 2: 971–972. 1753.

Common names: durra kizan, durra shami; corn, maize.

Robust annuals with stilt roots; plants monoecious. Culms 

2–3(–5) m tall, erect, 1–5 cm thick; internodes solid, ridged, 

semiterete, glabrous; butt sheaths glabrous. Leaves cauline; 

sheaths longer than adjacent internodes, glabrous, ribbed, margins sparsely hairy; ligules 1–2 mm long, membranous, apex 

erose or lacerate; blades 30–100 cm long, 2.5–10 cm wide, flat, 

drooping, hairy on basal 1⁄3, margins pubescent, bases cordate, 

apex acuminate. Female inflorescence axillary, subtended by 1 or 

more elliptic herbaceous spatheoles (sheaths), a cylindrical spike, 

1–5(–10) cm thick with 2 or more rows of paired spikelets; male 

inflorescence terminal, paniculate; lemmas awnless. Habitat: a 

cultivated crop or as introduced weed. Distribution: (Nv, Nn) 

tropics and subtropics, originally from Mexico.

FIGURE 291. Zea mays. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and blade. 

C. Female raceme. D. Male raceme. A drawn from El Hadidi s.n.

(CAI); B drawn from A. S. Hitchcock s.n. (US-727090); C unknown 

(US-727092); D drawn from A. Asima 421 (US-2208997).

FIGURE 290. Vossia cuspidata. A. Habit. B. Ligule, sheath, and 

blade. C. Inflorescence. D. Two spikelets. A, D drawn from Al Gadi 

5 (CAI); B drawn from Juniper & Jefford 39 (US-2473200); C modified from Ibrahim and Kabuye (1988).
NUMBER 103 • 179

KEY TO THE SUBSPECIES

1a. Female inflorescences 2–5(–10) cm thick with 8–24 rows of spikelet pairs forming a thick woody cob, all tightly enclosed 

by several leafy spatheoles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Z. mays subsp. mays

1b. Female inflorescences less than 1 cm thick with 2 rows of spikelet pairs forming a hardened rachis, all enclosed by a single 

leafy spatheole  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Z. mays subsp. 

FIGURE 292

Common name: Mexican teosinte.

FIGURE 292. Zea mays subsp. mexicana. A, B. Habit. C. Ligule, 

sheath, and blade. D. Pistillate racemes. A, B drawn from G. Gandara s.n. (US-1763492); C drawn from L. Lundell (US-2304203); D 

drawn from Palmer 743 (US-740001).

Glossary of Terms

adaxial. The side of an organ toward the axis, e.g., upper surface of a leaf. Opposite: 

abaxial.

adventitious root. A root that arises from any plant part other than the primary root.

ample. Large, copious; usually referring to a panicle.

amplexicaul. Used to describe a leaf blade where the base clasps the stem.

annual. A plant that completes its life cycle from seed to maturity in one year.

apex. The tip or end point of a structure. Opposite: base.

apical. Located at the apex.

apiculate. Ending abruptly in a short, sharp point.

appressed. Keeping close to or lying flat against another organ. Compare: adnate.

aquatic. Living in water.

aristate. With a bristle at the end; stiff awned or stiff bristled.

aristulate. Bearing or terminating in a small awn or sharp bristle.

aromatic. Fragrant due to essential oils in the plant tissues.

articulate. Jointed; provided with joints or nodes where separation may naturally take 

place.

ascending. Rising upward and approaching erect; often used to describe branches that 

form an angle from the culm of less than 90°.

asymmetrical. With both sides of an organ not equal.

attenuate. Gradually tapering to a slender base or tip, long pointed.

auricle. A small earlike appendage of the collar.

auriculate. Having an auricle; with earlike structures.

awn. A slender bristlelike appendage ending in an organ, borne on the glume or lemma 

of grasses.

axil. The upper angle between a stem and its branch (or leaf).

axillary. Used in reference to structures attached in the axil.

axis. The main stem or culm, especially of an inflorescence.

barbed. With rigid points or short bristles pointing backward.

basal. At or toward the base. Opposite: apical.

bearded. With long or stiff hairs.

biennial. Taking two years of growth from seedling to maturity, usually producing only 

vegetative growth in the first season and flowering in the second.

bifid. Two clefts or two lobes at the tip; deeply divided into two parts.

bilateral. Two-sided, usually referring to the placement of spikelets along two sides of 

a branch.
182 • SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO BOTANY

bilobed. With two lobes at the tip of a lemma found in Schismus.

blade. The final segment of grass leaf, above the sheath where 

the leaf clasps the stem.

bloom. Whitish waxy or powdery coating on a surface; see 

glaucous.

bract. A small modified leaf subtending pedicels or flowers; in 

grasses this includes the glumes, lemma, and palea.

branch. Lateral growth from the axis.

bristle. A fine, stiff, hairlike structure; these are found subtending the spikelets of Setaria.

bulbous. A swollen, thickened structure often made of fleshy 

scales, usually at the base of a culm resembling a bulb.

bur. A spiny cluster of spikelets or fascicle that falls as a single 

unit.

butt sheath. The thick basal remnant parts of leaves.

caducous. Falling off soon after formation, not persistent.

caespitose. Growing in low, tight groups or clumped; forming 

a tussock or tufted.

callus. A hard or firm structure; in grasses, the thick, hardened 

portion just below the lemma on the rachilla.

capitate. Forming headlike clusters, aggregated into a very 

dense or compact cluster.

cartilaginous. Hard and tough, gristly, but elastic, like cartilage.

caryopsis. A one-seeded, dry, indehiscent fruit with the seed 

coat adherent to the fruit wall; the grain of most grasses.

cataphyll. A scale leaf, usually on a rhizome at the base of the 

plant.

caudate spikelet. Having a narrow, taillike appendage, used to 

describe the long, linear, flattened apex of the lower glume 

in Vossia.

caudices. Short, thickened, verticillate or branched stems, usually subterranean or at ground level; in grasses, found at the 

base of the culm.

cauline. Borne on or arising along the stem, compared to basal, 

where leaves are mainly near the base.

chartaceous. Of papery or tissue-like texture.

ciliate. Fringed with spreading stiff hairs on the margin.

ciliolate. Fringed with very small hairs, minutely ciliate.

clasping. Leaf base surrounding and touching the stem closely 

on two sides; see amplexicaul.

clavate. Club shaped, the wider portion at the apex.

clumped. Growing in a tight group, or caespitose.

collar. A band of tissue situated at the junction of the blade and 

sheath, often lighter in color than the rest of the leaf.

column. The lower twisted part of a geniculate awn, or the 

portion below the awn branching point in Aristida.

compound. Referring to inflorescences made up of a number 

of small constituent inflorescences (as in some Andropogoneae) or raceme or spike with some secondary branching.

compressed. Flattened, either laterally or dorsally.

concave. Hollowed out, curving inward. Opposite: convex.

conduplicate. Folded lengthwise down the middle, used when 

referring to a leaf blade.

confluent. Structure merging in one, or fusing.

connate. Union or fusion of like parts or organs.

constricted. Abruptly narrowed, tightened or drawn together.

contracted. A narrow, dense inflorescence, usually with appressed branches.

convex. Having a more or less rounded surface.

convolute. Rolled longitudinally; leaf blades having one edge 

rolled inside the other.

cordate. Shaped like a heart at the base of the leaf blades, these 

often deeply notched, with rounded lobes.

coriaceous. Leathery in texture.

corymbose. A flat-topped, open inflorescence where the lower 

branches are longer than the upper branches, used to describe the panicles of Miscanthus.

cosmopolitan. Found throughout the world.

crateriform. Saucer or cup shaped, used to describe gland 

shape in Eragrostis.

crested. With an elevated and irregular-toothed ridge.

crown. The persistent basal portion of a tufted, herbaceous, 

perennial grass; the region from which the culm and roots 

grow.

crustaceous. Of hard, thin, and brittle texture.

culm. The grass stem that will eventually bare the spikelets; 

also applies to sedges and rushes.

cuneate. Wedge shaped; with the acute angle at the attachment 

point.

cupule. An involucre composed of bracts usually adherent at 

the base.

cuspidate. Abruptly tipped with a sharp, rigid point, usually in 

reference to the apex of a leaf blade.

decumbent. Stems or culms having the basal part flat along the 

ground, then curving upward; reclining.

decurrent. A structure adnate to the stem with its margins extending down the stem or axis below the point of insertion, 

usually used to describe the sheath.

deflexed. Bent or turned abruptly outward or downward but 

not to 180° (see reflexed).

dentate. With a sharp-toothed margin, with teeth perpendicular to the margin. Compare: serrate.

depressed. More or less flattened from above.

dichotomous. With forked, paired branches or divisions of approximately equal size.

digitate. Arranged like the fingers of a hand; with the members 

arising from the same point, same as palmate.

disarticulate. The separation of a structure usually at a node 

or joint.

distant. Farther from the point of attachment. Opposite: 

proximal.

distichous. Two-ranked on the opposite sides of a stem or culm.

divaricate. Spreading wide apart and in different directions.

divergent. Spreading broadly, but less so than divaricate.

dorsal. The back; the face turned away from the culm axis (the 

term abaxial is preferable). Opposite: ventral.

eglandular. Without glands.
NUMBER 103 • 183

ellipsoid. An elliptical three-dimensional shape, more or less 

with identical ends.

elliptic. Shaped like an ellipse; the broadest point midway between the ends and the width about one-half the length.

emarginate. Having a shallow notch at the apex, usually in reference to a leaf blade.

entire. With an even margin without teeth.

ephemeral. A short-lived structure or organism.

erect. A plant that is quite upright, growing perpendicular to 

the ground.

erose. Having an irregular-toothed margin.

excurrent. Extending beyond the margin or tip.

exserted. Protruding; sticking out; projecting beyond the edge. 

Opposite: included.

extravaginal branching. Growth of the shoot initial when the 

tip emerges or breaks through or ruptures the enveloping 

sheath; this is usually distinguished by the occurrence of 

bladeless leaves found directly above the indistinct prophyllum. Opposite: intravaginal.

falcate. Sickle shaped; curved on distal end.

false spike. A very narrow panicle with spikelets borne in tight 

clusters on much reduced side branches as in some species 

of Setaria and Cenchrus.

fascicle. A fairly tight cluster.

fascicles. Spikelike panicles of highly reduced branches forming a “bur” in Cenchrus and cluster of bristles in Setaria.

fasciculate. Leaves or branches in a cluster or tight bundle.

fastigiate branching. Branches or culms clustered or arising 

from a single point in a broom-like appearance; see Elionurus royleanus.

feathery. Resembling a feather.

fibrous. Furnished with fibers, often found in basal leaf sheaths.

filiform. Threadlike, long, slender, and cylindrical.

fimbriate. Fringed with long slender hairs coarser than ciliate.

flabellate. Fanlike, applied to flattened basal leaf sheaths.

flaccid. Soft or weak, limp, wilted. Opposite: firm or stiff.

flexuous. A zigzag or wavy form; bent alternately one way then 

the other.

floret. A portion of a spikelet (grass inflorescence) that includes 

the lemma, palea, and reproductive structures.

foliaceous. Leaflike.

fulvous. Tawny, orange-like, or dull yellowish brown to nearly 

chestnut.

geniculate. Abruptly bent like a knee joint.

gibbous. Slightly pouched or swollen on one side.

glabrous. Without hairs or glands, but not necessarily smooth. 

Opposite: hairy.

gland. A secreting structure on the surface, but often used in 

the sense of a gland-like body, any protuberance of like nature which may not secrete.

glandular. Covered with glands.

glaucous. Covered with a grayish, whitish, or bluish waxy 

coating that readily rubs off.

globose. Spherical, nearly or quite globular.

globular. Spherical.

glomerate. In a compact cluster or group of clusters.

glossy. Refers to a surface that is lustrous or shinny.

glume. The bract, usually occurring in pairs, at the base of a 

grass spikelet.

granular. Covered in little knobs or tubercles, less pronounced 

than tuberculate.

habit. The general appearance of a plant.

habitat. The surroundings in which a plant grows.

hair. A cylindrical cell or a row of cells, often very fine and 

transparent. Synonym: trichome.

head. An inflorescence of closely packed spikelets that is more 

or less round.

herb. A nonwoody plant whose stem dies back to the ground 

level at the end of the growing season.

herbaceous. Not woody, but soft and green.

hirsute. With straight, long, coarse, and stiff hairs.

hirtellous. Minutely hirsute.

hispid. Beset with stiff hairs, often strong enough to penetrate 

the skin.

hooded. Shaped like a hood or boat shaped, used to describe 

the leaf blade apex in most species of Poa.

hook. A curved or bent part at the apex of a leaf blade.

hyaline. Colorless, thin and translucent or transparent.

imbricate. Partly overlapping, like the tiles of a roof.

incurved. Curving inward or bent inward.

indument. Any hairy covering or pubescence.

indumentum. A cover of hairs, scales, or bristles.

indurated. Hardened at maturity.

inflexed. Turned sharply inward.

inflorescence. The flowing part of a plant, categorized by the 

arrangements of flowers on the floral axis.

inflorescence unit. Term used to describe pairs of spikelets in 

the tribe Andropogoneae, usually consisting of one sessile 

and one or two pedicellate spikelets.

innovation. A new vegetative shoot in a perennial grass.

inserted. Growing upon or attached to.

internode. The portion of the stem or culm between two nodes.

interrupted. When continuity is broken, particularly in dense 

inflorescence whose form is not continuous.

intravaginal branching. Growth of the shoot initial within the 

sheath that envelops the node, usually distinguished by the 

absence of bladeless leaves and development of an obvious, 

often palea-like prophyllum. Opposite: extravaginal.

involute. Rolled from both margins toward the middle, the 

upper surface within, especially common in leaf blades.

joint. Node of the culm or internode of an inflorescence.

keel. The adaxial ridge or fold of a compressed sheath, blade, 

glume, lemma, or palea.

keeled. Ridged along the middle of a flat or convex surface.

key. An ordered series of alternatives used to facilitate the identification of organisms.

knee. An abrupt bend in a stem or culm.

lacerate. Torn at the margin or irregularly lobed, as if torn.
184 • SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO BOTANY

lamina. The flat part of a leaf. Synonym: leaf blade.

lanate. With a very dense, wooly indumentum of hairs.

lanceolate. Lance shaped; narrow, tapering at both ends with 

the broadest part below the middle, approximately three 

times longer than wide.

lateral. Relating to the side of an organ or structure.

lax. Loose, distant, and not crowded together. Opposite: 

congested.

leaf blade. The upper expanded part of the leaf beyond the leaf 

sheath.

leaf sheath. The lower part of the leaf clasping the adjacent 

part of the grass stem and terminating at a node below.

lemma. The lower (outer) of two bracts enclosing the grass 

flower; together with palea constitutes a floret.

ligule. An appendage (membrane) or ring of hairs on the adaxial leaf surface at the junction of the sheath and blade.

limb. The distant untwisted part of a geniculate awn above the 

column.

linear. Long and narrow with parallel margins, more than 10 

times longer than wide; usually refers to the shape of the 

leaf blade.

lobed. A flat organ split in two or more subdivisions.

lobule. A small lobe.

loose. Refers to the branching pattern of inflorescences that are 

often open, but not dense or compact.

marginal. At or near the edge.

membranous. Thin, soft tissue, usually green or translucent; 

similar to a thin membrane.

midrib. The central vascular trace or vein in the leaf blade.

mucronate. A short, small, abrupt point or minute awn less 

than 1 mm in length.

muricate. Rough, with short, hard points.

muticous. Blunt and without a mucro or awn.

nerve. A vein or vascular trace, often raised, usually running 

longitudinally on blades, glumes, and lemmas.

node. Point on the stem or culm axis at which leaves or branches 

originate; usually, these are swollen or knob-like.

notched. V-shaped cut from an entire edge.

oblique. Pertains to base of leaf blades where two sides of the 

lamina are unequal.

oblong. Longer than broad, with the margins nearly parallel.

obovate. Reversed ovate, inverted ovate, the broadest part near 

the apex and the narrow side near the base.

obovoid. Egg shaped, but with the broadest part near the apex 

and the narrowest part near the base.

obtuse. With a blunt or rounded apex.

oral hairs or setae. Hairs on the margin of the distal end of leaf 

sheath; hairs adjacent to the ligule auricular region.

orbicular. Disk shaped, flat with a circular outline.

ovate. The shape of a longitudinal section of an egg, the 

broader end below the middle.

ovoid. Egg shaped.

palea. The inner or upper bract enclosing the pistil and stamens 

of a grass.

pallid. Pale in color.

panicle. An inflorescence in which the main axis has several 

divided or subdivided branches.

paniculate. Resembling a panicle.

papillose. Bearing minute nipple-like projections.

pectinate. Comb-like, with very close narrow divisions or parts.

pedicel. The stalk of an individual flower in an inflorescence; in 

grasses the stalk of a spikelet.

pedicellate. Borne on a pedicel.

peduncle. The stalk of an inflorescence or cluster of spikelets.

pedunculate. With a footstalk or peduncle.

perennial. A plant living for more than two years.

perfect. A floret (flower) with functional stamens and pistil.

persistent. Remaining attached, not falling off.

petiole. The stalk of a leaf blade.

pilose. Covered with loose, soft, long, straight hairs, not dense 

but somewhat shaggy.

pit glands. Small glandular depressions common on some species of Eragrostis.

plane. Level, flat surface.

pleated. Folded; see plicate.

plicate. Folded on several ribs in the manner of a closed fan.

plumose. Covered with long, spreading, soft hairs, each hair 

with side hairs along the main axis like the plume of a feather.

procumbent. Prostrate, trailing or lying flat, usually not rooting at nodes. Compare: stolon.

prophyllum. An initial, usually two-keeled, bladeless, adaxial, 

protective bract surrounding an axillary vegetative or floral bud; usually well developed in intravaginal branching 

shoots.

prostrate. Lying flat on the ground.

puberulent. Minutely pubescent, with very short hairs barely 

visible to the eye.

pubescent. A generalized term for hairy, lacking definition of 

the type of hairs, but sometimes referring to fine short hairs.

punctate. With transparent or colored dots, depressions, or pits.

pungent. Ending in a rigid sharp point.

pyriform. Pear shaped, used to describe grains of Eragrostis 

pectinacea.

raceme. A portion of an inflorescence with the spikelets borne 

on pedicels directly on the axis or peduncle; racemes may be 

solitary, digitate, or scattered.

racemose. Arranged like a raceme.

rachilla. The branching axis of the spikelet that bear florets.

rachis. The axis of an inflorescence that bares spikelets.

rame. A compound inflorescence in the tribe Andropogoneae 

consisting of one to many units (branches) of one sessile and 

one or two pedicellate spikelets.

rectangular-prismatic. Having six more or less flat surfaces, i.e., 

shaped like a brick; used to describe the grain in Eragrostis.

reedlike. A semipersistent, aboveground stem that is not woody 

and is generally unbranched except in the inflorescence; in 

grasses this refers to stems that are large, usually more than 

2 m tall.
NUMBER 103 • 185

reflexed. Abruptly curved or bent downward or backward to 

about 180°; see deflexed.

retrorse. Marginal spines or barbs bent abruptly downward or 

backward (away from the apex). Opposite: antrorse.

revolute. Rolled or curled toward the abaxial (lower) surface. 

Opposite: involute.

rib. A prominent vein, usually on a leaf.

ridged. Having raised veins.

rhizome. An underground stem, differing from a true root in 

the presence of buds or scalelike leaves.

rootstock. A short, vertical, subterranean stem, bearing roots.

rosette. A spreading and radiating basal cluster of leaves at 

ground level.

rostrate. With a beak, narrowed into a slender tip or point.

rounded. Smoothly curved without sharp angles. Synonym: 

obtuse.

rudimentary. Imperfectly or incompletely developed; vestigial 

and usually nonfunctional.

rufous. Rusty or brownish red.

rugose. Covered with wrinkles or creased surface.

rugulose. Finely wrinkled; diminutive of rugose.

runner. A creeping or prostrate lateral shoot; a very slender or 

filiform stolon.

sagittate. Shaped like an arrowhead; used to describe the base 

of a leaf blade that has two acute lobes that point backward.

scaberulous. Minutely scabrous, slightly rough.

scabrid. Rough to touch, usually caused by the presence of 

minute teeth or scattered short, stiff, broad-based hairs.

scabrous. Rough or harsh to touch, usually from short, stiff, 

broad-based hairs.

scales. Thin, dry, flat, almost leaflike structure protecting the 

rhizome or shoots.

scarious. Small, thin, dry, and shriveled, not green.

secund. One-sided; as when all branches or spikelets are borne 

to the same side of the axis.

sensu lato. A Latin phrase meaning “in a broad sense” 

(abbreviated s.l.).

sensu stricto. A Latin phrase meaning “in a narrow sense” 

(abbreviated s.s.).

sericeous. Silky, with closely appressed, soft, straight hairs.

serrate. Sharp toothed and angled like a saw edge, the teeth 

directed toward the apex.

serrulate. Serrate with minute teeth.

sessile. Without stalk or pedicel.

seta. A bristle or stiff hair (pl. setae).

setaceous. Stiff and narrow, bristlelike.

setose. Bristly, beset with bristles.

sheath. A more or less tubular structure surrounding an organ 

or part, as the lower part of a grass leaf that wraps around 

the stem.

silky. A condition produced by a cover of soft, long, straight, 

fine hairs.

simple. Composed of not more than one anatomically or morphologically identical unit; not compound.

sinuous. Strongly wavy. Compare: undulate.

sinus. The notch between two lobes of a leaf or apex of a 

lemma.

slender. Slim, thin.

smooth. Referring to surfaces that are not rough, sometimes 

loosely used for the absence of hairs.

solitary. Borne singly or alone.

spathe. A leafy bract (in grasses formed by the sheath) that supports the branches of a spatheate inflorescence.

spatheate. With spathes or spatheoles.

spatheolate. Having spatheoles.

spatheole. A leafy bract (spathe) enclosing part of an inflorescence. In grasses the leafy bract is usually the sheath.

spatulate. Spoon or spatula shaped.

spicate. With spikes, spikelike, or disposed in a spike.

spiciform. Spikelike, in the form of a spike.

spike. An inflorescence or branch with sessile spikelets on an 

axis; spikes may be solitary, digitate, or scattered.

spikelet. The unit of the inflorescence in grasses, consisting of 

two glumes and one or more florets; a diminutive of spike.

spine. A hard, sharp-pointed structure, often long and narrow.

spinose. Spiny or spine-like.

spinulose. With small spine; diminutive of spinose.

spreading. Referring to branches of an inflorescence having an 

outward direction at about right angles to the main axis.

stipe. A stalk to an organ that is part of the organ itself and not 

a separate branch.

stilt-root. Adventitious roots from the lower nodes of the 

culms.

stolon. A modified stem above ground (runner) that creeps and 

roots at the nodes and can give rise to new plants.

stoloniferous. Bearing stolons.

striate. With numerous longitudinal and parallel fine grooves, 

ridges, or lines of color.

strigose. With appressed, stiff, rather short hairs.

sub–. A prefix to denote somewhat, slightly, or to a lesser degree; as in subacute, subdigitate, suberect, subglabrous, subsessile, subspicate, subobtuse.

subdigitate. With inflorescence branches arising predominantly 

at the one point (apex), but with one or a few branches 

clearly arising below these.

subtend. To be below and yet close to, to extend under another 

structure.

subulate. Awl shaped, very narrow and tapering to a fine tip 

from a broader base.

tapering. Gradually narrowing in width toward one end, not 

abrupt.

taxon. Any taxonomic unit into which living organisms are 

classified, e.g., species, genus, tribe, subfamily, family, etc.

terete. Circular in cross section, lacking grooves or ridges.

terminal. At the end of a branch, stem, or culm axis.

ternate. Arranged in a cluster of three.

tiller. A leafy, nonflowering shoot initiating from the base of 

the plant.
186 • SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO BOTANY

tomentose. Densely covered with matted soft wool-like hairs.

toothed. Having teeth-like protrusions.

tough. Not disarticulating. Opposite: fragile.

truncate. Ending abruptly; cut squarely; with the apex flat as if 

cut across at the top.

tubercle. A small rounded protruding body; a little tuber.

tuberculate. Furnished with small projections or tubercles.

tufted. Clustered, or clumped. Synonym: caespitose.

turgid. Swollen, inflated.

tussock. A tough, dense tuft of basal leaves found in perennial 

grasses (see caespitose).

undulate. Gently wavy. Compare: sinuous.

unilateral. One-sided, usually referring to the placement of 

spikelets along one side of a branch.

utricle. A small bladder-like one-seeded indehiscent fruit used 

to describe the globose-ovoid, bony, shining structure enclosing the one-flowered spikelet of Coix lacryma-jobi.

vein. A strand of vascular tissue (a vascular bundle) usually 

found in leaves, glumes, lemmas, and paleae.

venation. The arrangement of the vascular bundles or veins in 

a leaf.

vernal. Occurring in the spring.

verrucose. Having a wartlike or nodular surface.

verticillate. Arranged in whorls.

villous. Densely covered with long, weak, silky, often curly hairs.

viscid. Sticky or glue-like.

viscous. Glutinous, or very sticky.

wanting. Lacking.

wart. A hard or firm excrescence.

webbed. A tuft of cotton-like hairs found just below the lemma 

in some species of Poa.

whorl. Three or more structures arranged in a circular manner 

around a common insertion point.

whorled. Having whorls.

winged. With a thin projection or border resembling a wing.

wiry. Like a wire, thin and cylindrical.

woolly. Hairy with dense, long, soft, entangled, curled hairs 

not appressed to the surface. Synonym: lanate.
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The description number and scientific name are included in parentheses for reference.

abu beid (216, Setaria geminata), 143

abu fakhour (33, Bromus fasciculatus), 46

abu fakhur (46, Bromus tectorum), 53

abu hareiba (257, Taeniatherum caput-medusae), 164

abu hereida (213, Schismus barbatus), 141

abu keneitla (39, Bromus madritensis), 49

abu keneitla (43, Bromus rubens), 51

abu keneitla (46, Bromus tectorum), 53

abu mashi (213, Schismus barbatus), 141

abu muashi (205, Rostraria cristata), 137

abu nakhour (255, Stipellula capensis), 163

abu qoseiba (95, Dichanthium annulatum), 78

abu qu’sseyba (99, Digitaria sanguinalis), 81

abu rokba (105, Echinochloa colona), 84

abu rokeba (99, Digitaria sanguinalis), 81

abu rokeiba (50, Cenchrus ciliaris), 55

abu shtert (43, Bromus rubens), 51

adar hamoreit (18, Aristida mutabilis), 38

adar hamoreit (279, Urochloa mutica), 175

ain el qott (189, Phalaris minor), 129

ain seela (245, Stipagrostis lanata), 158

akl asfour (187, Phalaris canariensis), 128

amosheet (108, Echinochloa stagnina), 85

anse’a (200, Poa sinaica), 135

areibi (263, Tragus racemosus), 167

ausiba (279, Urochloa mutica), 175

babaaq (235, Sporobolus schoenoides), 153

bahma (20, Avena barbata), 39

bakhragun el ghul (28, Bromus aegyptiacus), 43

banias (57, Cenchrus setaceus), 59

bannu (135, Eragrostis tremula), 100

bano (135, Eragrostis tremula), 100

belleib (277, Urochloa deflexa), 174

bilbil (281, Urochloa ramosa), 176

bohma (147, Hordeum marinum), 106

bohma (213, Schismus barbatus), 141

boos khaba (193, Phragmites australis), 131

bous (211, Saccharum spontaneum), 140

Index of Common Names 

(Arabic)
192 • SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO BOTANY

bous el ghazair (211, Saccharum spontaneum), 

140

bous qallam (211, Saccharum spontaneum), 

140

dabbook (126, Eragrostis ciliaris), 94

dafra (97, Digitaria ciliaris), 80

dafra (98, Digitaria nodosa), 80

dakhn (48, Cenchrus americanus), 54

danabi (227, Sorghum × drummondii), 148

deil el faar (204, Polypogon viridis), 137

deil el far (220, Setaria pumila), 145

deil el far (222, Setaria viridis), 146

deil el qot (221, Setaria verticillata), 146

deil el-qott (152, Imperata cylindrica), 109

deil el-qott (192, Phleum subulatum), 130

deil el qott (203, Polypogon monspeliensis), 

136

deil el qott (220, Setaria pumila), 145

deil el taalab (39, Bromus madritensis), 49

deil el ta’leb (43, Bromus rubens), 51

denaab (106, Echinochloa crus-galli), 84

deneb el far (203, Polypogon monspeliensis), 

136

deneib (103, Dinebra retroflexa), 83

dhareri (247, Stipagrostis obtusa), 146

difra (221, Setaria verticillata), 146

dimo’ ayoub (71, Coix lacryma-jobi), 66

dineiba sultani (106, Echinochloa crus-galli), 

84

dokhn (176, Panicum miliaceum), 122

dourayit (224, Sorghum bicolor), 147

dreira (249, Stipagrostis plumosa), 160

dura baladi (227, Sorghum × drummondii), 

148

dura beida (227, Sorghum × drummondii), 

148

dura ewiega (227, Sorghum × drummondii), 

148

dura hamra (224, Sorghum bicolor), 147

dura helwa (224, Sorghum bicolor), 147

dura rafia’aa (224, Sorghum bicolor), 147

dura safra (227, Sorghum × drummondii), 

148

dura seifi (224, Sorghum bicolor), 147

dura siefi (227, Sorghum × drummondii), 148

durra kizan (284, Zea mays), 178

durra shami (284, Zea mays), 178

durra siefi (224, Sorghum bicolor), 147

eilaab (100, Digitaria velutina), 81

eilaab gabal (123, Eragrostis aspera), 93

el-ehaim (42, Bromus pumilio), 51

erq el negiel (84, Cynodon dactylon), 73

fakhour (36, Bromus japonicus), 48

fakhour (42, Bromus pumilio), 51

fino (276, Triticum turgidum), 173

gamh-el hagal (3, Aegilops geniculata), 30

garawa (225, Sorghum halepense), 148

garawa (226, Sorghum virgatum), 148

gawther (240, Stipa lagascae), 156

gazoon (160, Lolium perenne), 113

gazouf (10, Agropyron cristatum), 134

gazouf (14, Ammophila arenaria), 36

ghaab (194, Phragmites mauritianus), 132

ghaab reehi (194, Phragmites mauritianus), 

132

ghab (19, Arundo donax), 38

ghab (193, Phragmites australis), 131

ghab farsi (211, Saccharum spontaneum), 

140

hadaa (57, Cenchrus setaceus), 59

hagal (3, Aegilops geniculata), 30

hagna (193, Phragmites australis), 131

halfa (57, Cenchrus setaceus), 59

halfa (93, Desmazeria philistaea subsp.

rohlfsiana), 77

halfa (94, Desmostachya bipinnata), 77

halfa (152, Imperata cylindrica), 109

halfa (163, Lygeum spartum), 115

halfa-bar (83, Cymbopogon schoenanthus), 

71

hamara (239, Stipa arabica), 155

hamra (227, Sorghum × drummondii), 148

hanteeb (57, Cenchrus setaceus), 59

hanteeb (58, Cenchrus setiger), 59

harroay (262, Tragus berteronianus), 167

hasheesh abu khosa (183, Paspalum 

distichum), 126

hasheesh anaareb (105, Echinochloa colona), 

84

hasheesh dakar (145, Hemarthria altissima), 

105

hasheesh el faras (160, Lolium perenne), 113

hasheesh el faras (226, Sorghum virgatum), 

148

hasheesh shami (145, Hemarthria altissima), 

105

hashish el faras (225, Sorghum halepense), 

148

hashish el genieh (164, Megathyrsus maximus), 

115

hashish el Sudan (225, Sorghum halepense), 

148

hashish rukeb (279, Urochloa mutica), 175

hashishet el lamoun (78, Cymbopogon 

citratus), 69

hashma (83, Cymbopogon schoenanthus), 71

heesh (104, Diplachne fusca), 83

heesh (211, Saccharum spontaneum), 140

heilagoug (130, Eragrostis pilosa), 96

hemaar (195, Piptatherum holciforme), 132

hemeira (151, Hyparrhenia hirta), 108

hemeira (242, Stipagrostis ciliata), 157

hemri (50, Cenchrus ciliaris), 55

hemri (171, Oloptum miliaceum), 119

hemri (195, Piptatherum holciforme), 132

hmera (95, Dichanthium annulatum), 78

homaar (171, Oloptum miliaceum), 119

hosaad (235, Sporobolus schoenoides), 153

humeira (95, Dichanthium annulatum), 78

imzein (180, Parapholis incurva), 124

indinqirni (228, Sphenopus divaricatus), 149

kanari hindi (187, Phalaris canariensis), 128

khabaa (188, Phalaris coerulescens), 128

khafoor (56, Cenchrus ramosissimus), 58

khafoor (75, Cutandia dichotoma), 68

khafoor (76, Cutandia maritima), 68

khafour (21, Avena fatua), 39

khafour (24, Avena sterilis), 40

kharfar (189, Phalaris minor), 129

lesseiq (25, Brachypodium distachyon), 42

manteeb (70, Coelachyrum brevifolium), 65

medaad (105, Echinochloa colona), 84

moddeid (108, Echinochloa stagnina), 85

moddeid (183, Paspalum distichum), 126

moddeid (279, Urochloa mutica), 175

moddied (84, Cynodon dactylon), 73

mulleih (8, Aeluropus lagopoides), 33

na’eem el-saleeb (89, Dactyloctenium 

aegyptium), 75

negeil (9, Aeluropus littoralis), 33

negeil (113, Eleusine indica), 88

negeil el-nimr (103, Dinebra retroflexa), 83

negeil faransawi (238, Stenotaphrum secundatum), 155

negil baladi (84, Cynodon dactylon), 73

negil dakar (177, Panicum repens), 123

negil el naaga (61, Centropodia forskalii), 61

negil shaitani (8, Aeluropus lagopoides), 33

negil shoki (236, Sporobolus spicatus), 154

neseela na’am (177, Panicum repens), 123

nesila (280, Urochloa panicoides), 176

nessie (54, Cenchrus orientalis), 57

nessiye (242, Stipagrostis ciliata), 157

nessiye (249, Stipagrostis plumosa), 160

nigeel farisi (177, Panicum repens), 123

nigeil farsi (95, Dichanthium annulatum), 78

niseela (216, Setaria geminata), 143

nissiela (282, Urochloa reptans), 176

no’eima (204, Polypogon viridis), 137

no’eima (221, Setaria verticillata), 146

no’eym (221, Setaria verticillata), 146

nuseil (160, Lolium perenne), 113

nussi (250, Stipagrostis raddiana), 161

okunish (91, Dactyloctenium scindicum), 76

qaba (249, Stipagrostis plumosa), 160

qamh baladi (275, Triticum pyramidale), 173

qamh dakar (274, Triticum durum), 173

qamh el afrit (61, Centropodia forskalii), 61

qamh el far (221, Setaria verticillata), 172

qamh hindi (272, Triticum aestivum), 172

qamh taliani (272, Triticum aestivum), 172

qasab hegazi (193, Phragmites australis), 131

qasaba (104, Diplachne fusca), 83

qassab (216, Setaria geminata), 143

qassab el sokar (210, Saccharum 

officinarum), 140

qau (244, Stipagrostis hirtigluma), 158

qeseiba (177, Panicum repens), 123

reesh el hossein (195, Piptatherum 

holciforme), 132

reesh el huossein (203, Polypogon 

monspeliensis), 136
NUMBER 103 • 193

retem (57, Cenchrus setaceus), 59

ribaay (55, Cenchrus pennisetiformis), 58

rigl el-ghorab (50, Cenchrus ciliaris), 55

rigl er-hirbaya (89, Dactyloctenium 

aegyptium), 75

rokeeba (95, Dichanthium annulatum), 78

rokeib (277, Urochloa deflexa), 174

roqeyba (145, Hemarthria altissima), 105

rozz (172, Oryza sativa), 120

rukeib (236, Sporobolus spicatus), 154

rukeiba (279, Urochloa mutica), 175

saba’ rus (276, Triticum turgidum), 173

sabad (255, Stipellula capensis), 163

sabal abu el-hosein (16, Aristida 

adscensionis), 37

sabal abu el-hosein (33, Bromus 

fasciculatus), 46

sabal abu el hosein (46, Bromus 

tectorum), 53

sabal abu el hussein (200, Poa sinaica), 135

sabal abu el hussein (256, Stipellula 

parviflora), 164

sabal el far (3, Aegilops geniculata), 30

sabat (54, Cenchrus orientalis), 57

sabat (57, Cenchrus setaceus), 59

sabat (151, Hyparrhenia hirta), 108

sabat (236, Sporobolus spicatus), 154

sabat (251, Stipagrostis scoparia), 161

sabat (255, Stipellula capensis), 163

sabat (264, Tricholaena teneriffae), 168

sabat gabali (236, Sporobolus spicatus), 154

safsoof (151, Hyparrhenia hirta), 108

safsoof (247, Stipagrostis obtusa), 159

safsoof (255, Stipellula capensis), 163

safsoof (256, Stipellula parviflora), 164

safsouf (33, Bromus fasciculatus), 46

safsouf (36, Bromus japonicus), 48

safsouf (40, Bromus pectinatus), 50

safsouf (46, Bromus tectorum), 53

safsouf (257, Taeniatherum caput-medusae), 

164

safwa (220, Setaria pumila), 145

sakham (241, Stipagrostis acutiflora), 156

sakham (245, Stipagrostis lanata), 158

samaat (155, Lasiurus scindicus), 110

sammah (77, Cutandia memphitica), 69

sammah (159, Lolium multiflorum), 112

sammah (161, Lolium rigidum), 113

sayfoun (10, Agropyron cristatum), 34

sayfoun (95, Dichanthium annulatum), 78

sayfoun (104, Diplachne fusca), 83

sewan (155, Lasiurus scindicus), 110

shaa’eer el far (189, Phalaris minor), 129

shaar el far (217, Setaria italica), 144

sha’eer (150, Hordeum vulgare), 108

shaeer bari (149, Hordeum spontaneum), 

107

sha’eer eblis (2, Aegilops bicornis), 29

sha’eer el deep (148, Hordeum murinum), 

106

sha’eer el far (2, Aegilops bicornis), 29

sha’eer el far (4, Aegilops kotschyi), 30

shafshoof (245, Stipagrostis lanata), 158

sha’ir barri (25, Brachypodium 

distachyon), 42

sha’iriya (147, Hordeum marinum), 106

sh’aish (249, Stipagrostis plumosa), 160

shawash (174, Panicum coloratum), 121

sh’eer el far (190, Phalaris paradoxa), 129

sheifun (20, Avena barbata), 39

shillakh (156, Leersia hexandra), 110

shok el ghazal (254, Stipagrostis vulnerans), 

163

sholleikh (156, Leersia hexandra), 110

shoosh (254, Stipagrostis vulnerans), 163

shoufan (23, Avena sativa), 40

silla (152, Imperata cylindrica), 109

silla (236, Sporobolus spicatus), 154

simbil (159, Lolium multiflorum), 112

sobbeila (142, Festuca pectinella), 103

sumbul hindi (82, Cymbopogon nardus), 71

tebbis (92, Danthoniopsis barbata), 76

teiraab (157, Leptothrium senegalense), 111

teiraab (165, Melanocenchris abyssinica), 116

teirra (255, Stipellula capensis), 163

thammam (178, Panicum turgidum), 123

thommam (178, Panicum turgidum), 123

timzein (180, Parapholis incurva), 124

tiraab (125, Eragrostis cilianensis), 94

wumbul hindi (83, Cymbopogon 

schoenanthus), 71

yadaab (40, Bromus pectinatus), 50

yadaab (55, Cenchrus pennisetiformis), 58

yadaab (277, Urochloa deflexa), 174

yadab (281, Urochloa ramosa), 176

yaraab (58, Cenchrus setiger), 59

yaraab (264, Tricholaena teneriffae), 168

za’abal (55, Cenchrus pennisetiformis), 58

za’bal (267, Triraphis pumilio), 170

zafra (105, Echinochloa colona), 84

zaghab el-far (213, Schismus barbatus), 141

zawaan (162, Lolium temulentum), 114

zo-aan (162, Lolium temulentum), 114

zommeir (20, Avena barbata), 39

zommeir (21, Avena fatua), 39

zommeir (24, Avena sterilis), 40

The description number and scientific name are included in parentheses for reference.

African millet (111, Eleusine coracana), 87

altai grass (197, Poa diaphora), 133

animated oat (24, Avena sterilis), 40

annual bluegrass (196, Poa annua), 133

annual brachiaria (277, Urochloa deflexa), 174

annual fog (146, Holcus annuus), 105

annual meadow grass (196, Poa annua), 133

annual rye grass (159, Lolium multiflorum), 112

annual rye grass (161, Lolium rigidum), 113

annual veldtgrass (109, Ehrharta calycina), 86

Arabian grass (213, Schismus barbatus), 141

awnless brome (35, Bromus inermis), 47

baby bamboo (201, Pogonatherum paniceum), 135

barbed goatgrass (7, Aegilops ventricosa), 32

barley wheat (149, Hordeum spontaneum), 107

barren brome (45, Bromus sterilis), 52

bearded sprangletop (104, Diplachne fusca), 83

Bermuda grass (84, Cynodon dactylon), 73

birdwood grass (58, Cenchrus setiger), 59

black oat (21, Avena fatua), 39

blue buffel grass (50, Cenchrus ciliaris), 55

blue panic grass (173, Panicum antidotale), 121

blue signal grass (278, Urochloa leersioides), 175

bread wheat (272, Triticum aestivum), 172

bristly dogstail grass (87, Cynosurus echinatus), 74

bristly foxtail (221, Setaria verticillata), 146

brome fescue (139, Festuca bromoides), 102

broom brome (44, Bromus scoparius), 52

broomcorn millet (176, Panicum miliaceum), 122

browntop millet (281, Urochloa ramosa), 176

buffel grass (50, Cenchrus ciliaris), 55

canary grass (186, Phalaris arundinacea), 127

canary grass (187, Phalaris canariensis), 128

caterpillar grass (182, Paspalum dilatatum), 125

cattail millet (48, Cenchrus americanus), 54

cheatgrass (46, Bromus tectorum), 53

Chinese silver grass (169, Miscanthus sinensis), 118

Index of Common Names 

(English)
196 • SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO BOTANY

citronella grass (82, Cymbopogon 

nardus), 71

cloncurry buffel grass (55, Cenchrus 

pennisetiformis), 58

coast barbgrass (180, Parapholis incurva), 

124

cock’s foot (88, Dactylis glomerata), 75

cogongrass (152, Imperata cylindrica), 109

colored guinea grass (174, Panicum coloratum), 121

common barley (150, Hordeum vulgare), 108

common brome (35, Bromus inermis), 47

common reed (193, Phragmites australis), 

131

corn (284, Zea mays), 178

corn panic grass (105, Echinochloa colona), 

84

couch grass (117, Elymus repens), 90

cowpond grass (235, Sporobolus 

schoenoides), 153

crabgrass (99, Digitaria sanguinalis), 81

creaping bentgrass (11, Agrostis 

stolonifera), 34

creeping wildrye (117, Elymus repens), 90

crested wheatgrass (10, Agropyron 

cristatum), 34

crowfoot grass (89, Dactyloctenium 

aegyptium), 75

curly barbgrass (180, Parapholis incurva), 

124

curved sea grass (180, Parapholis incurva), 

124

dallis grass (182, Paspalum dilatatum), 125

darnel ryegrass (162, Lolium temulentum), 

114

Delhi grass (95, Dichanthium annulatum), 78

dogstail grass (86, Cynosurus coloratus), 74

downy brome (46, Bromus tectorum), 53

downy chess (46, Bromus tectorum), 53

dune fescue (140, Festuca fasciculata), 102

durum wheat (274, Triticum durum), 173

durum wheat (276, Triticum turgidum), 173

early meadow grass (198, Poa infirma), 134

East Indian lemon grass (79, Cymbopogon 

flexuosus), 70

elastic grass (134, Eragrostis tenuifolia), 99

emmer wheat (273, Triticum dicoccum), 173

eulalia (169, Miscanthus sinensis), 118

false esparto grass (163, Lygeum spartum), 

115

feather finger grass (67, Chloris virgata), 64

feather grass (104, Diplachne fusca), 83

feathertop grass (53, Cenchrus longisetus), 57

ferngrass (47, Catapodium rigidum), 53

finger millet (111, Eleusine coracana), 87

fowlfoot grass (113, Eleusine indica), 88

foxtail (221, Setaria verticillata), 146

foxtail brome (29, Bromus alopecuros), 44

foxtail chess (39, Bromus madritensis), 49

foxtail prickle grass (230, Sporobolus 

alopecuroides), 151

giant blue panic grass (173, Panicum 

antidotale), 121

giant rat’s tail grass (232, Sporobolus 

natalensis), 152

giant reed (19, Arundo donax), 38

giant sacaton (237, Sporobolus wrightii), 154

goatgrass (2, Aegilops bicornis), 29

goatgrass (5, Aegilops longissima), 31

goatgrass (6, Aegilops peregrina), 32

golden crown grass (182, Paspalum 

dilatatum), 125

goldentop grass (154, Lamarckia aurea), 110

goosegrass (1, Acrachne racemosa), 29

gophertail lovegrass (126, Eragrostis 

ciliaris), 94

great brome (32, Bromus diandrus), 45

greater quaking grass (26, Briza maxima), 42

green bristlegrass (222, Setaria viridis), 146

green foxtail (222, Setaria viridis), 146

grey lovegrass (125, Eragrostis 

cilianensis), 94

guinea grass (164, Megathyrsus maximus), 

115

hairy crabgrass (99, Digitaria sanguinalis), 81

harding grass (185, Phalaris aquatica), 127

hare’s-tail grass (153, Lagurus ovatus), 109

herd’s grass (191, Phleum pratense), 130

hippo grass (283, Vossia cuspidata), 177

hood canary grass (190, Phalaris paradoxa), 

129

hook grass (157, Leptothrium 

senegalense), 11

Indian goose grass (113, Eleusine indica), 88

Indian lovegrass (130, Eragrostis pilosa), 96

Italian foxtail millet (217, Setaria italica), 

144

Italian millet (217, Setaria italica), 144

Italian rye grass (159, Lolium multiflorum), 

112

Italian timothy (192, Phleum subulatum), 

130

Japanese brome (36, Bromus japonicus), 48

Japanese chess (36, Bromus japonicus), 48

Japanese lovegrass (133, Eragrostis 

tenella), 99

Job’s tears (71, Coix lacryma-jobi), 66

Johnson grass (225, Sorghum halepense), 148

June grass (46, Bromus tectorum), 53

jungle rice (105, Echinochloa colona), 84

jwarancusa grass (80, Cymbopogon 

iwarancusa), 70

kangaroo grass (260, Themeda triandra), 165

Kikuyu grass (51, Cenchrus clandestinus), 56

knotgrass (183, Paspalum distichum), 126

large barnyard grass (106, Echinochloa 

crus-galli), 84

large bushman grass (253, Stipagrostis 

uniplumis), 162

lemon grass (78, Cymbopogon citratus), 69

lesser quaking grass (27, Briza minor), 43

limpograss (145, Hemarthria altissima), 105

little lovegrass (129, Eragrostis minor), 96

liverseed grass (280, Urochloa panicoides), 

176

longarm ripgut brome (32, Bromus 

diandrus), 45

maize (284, Zea mays), 178

marram grass (14, Ammophila arenaria), 36

marvel grass (95, Dichanthium 

annulatum), 78

Mediterranean brome (37, Bromus 

lanceolatus), 48

Mediterranean hairgrass (205, Rostraria 

cristata), 137

Mediterranean lovegrass (124, Eragrostis 

barrelieri), 93

Mediterranean rabbitsfoot grass (202, 

Polypogon maritimus), 136

Mediterranean salt grass (9, Aeluropus 

littoralis), 33

Mediterranean steppe grass (255, Stipellula 

capensis), 163

medusahead rye (257, Taeniatherum 

caput-medusae), 164

Memphis grass (77, Cutandia 

memphitica), 69

Mexican teosinte (284, Zea mays), 178

millet rice (105, Echinochloa colona), 84

milo (224, Sorghum bicolor), 147

modest prickle grass (233, Sporobolus 

niliacus), 152

molasses grass (167, Melinis minutiflora), 

117

mucronate sprangletop (102, Dinebra 

panicea), 82

nalgrass (19, Arundo donax), 38

natal grass (168, Melinis repens), 117

nit grass (143, Gastridium phleoides), 104

oats (23, Avena sativa), 40

orchard grass (88, Dactylis glomerata), 75

oriental fountain grass (54, Cenchrus 

orientalis), 57

ovate goatgrass (3, Aegilops geniculata), 30

palmarosa (81, Cymbopogon martini), 71

pampas grass (72, Cortaderia selloana), 66

pan dropseed (231, Sporobolus ioclados), 

151

panic rampant (177, Panicum repens), 123

para grass (279, Urochloa mutica), 175

pearl millet (48, Cenchrus americanus), 54

perennial rye grass (160, Lolium perenne), 

113

Peruvian paspalum (184, Paspalum 

racemosum), 126

pond lovegrass (127, Eragrostis japonica), 95

poverty brome (45, Bromus sterilis), 52

prickle grass (229, Sporobolus aculeatus), 

150

proso millet (176, Panicum miliaceum), 122
NUMBER 103 • 197

purple false brome (25, Brachypodium 

distachyon), 42

purple fountain grass (57, Cenchrus 

setaceus), 59

quack grass (117, Elymus repens), 90

rabbit’s foot (203, Polypogon monspeliensis), 

136

rattail fescue (141, Festuca myuros), 103

red brome (43, Bromus rubens), 51

red oatgrass (260, Themeda triandra), 165

reed grass (194, Phragmites mauritianus), 

132

rescue grass (30, Bromus catharticus), 44

rhodes grass (64, Chloris gayana), 62

rice (172, Oryza sativa), 120

rice cut grass (156, Leersia hexandra), 110

ripgut brome (32, Bromus diandrus), 45

rosha grass (81, Cymbopogon martini), 71

ruby silk lovegrass (132, Eragrostis tef), 98

running grass (282, Urochloa reptans), 176

Saint Augustine grass (238, Stenotaphrum 

secundatum), 155

sea barley (147, Hordeum marinum), 106

sicklegrass (180, Parapholis incurva), 124

silver grass (139, Festuca bromoides), 102

Sinai meadow grass (200, Poa sinaica), 135

sixweeks threeawn (16, Aristida 

adscensionis), 37

slender meadow foxtail (12, Alopecurus 

myosuroides), 35

slender oat (20, Avena barbata), 39

slender soft brome (38, Bromus lepidus), 49

small canary grass (189, Phalaris minor), 

129

smilo grass (171, Oloptum miliaceum), 119

smooth brome (35, Bromus inermis), 47

soft brome (34, Bromus hordeaceus), 46

sorghum (224, Sorghum bicolor), 147

southern sandbur (52, Cenchrus 

echinatus), 56

spiked bur grass (262, Tragus berteronianus), 

167

stalked bur grass (263, Tragus racemosus), 

167

stink grass (125, Eragrostis cilianensis), 94

strawoats (23, Avena sativa), 40

Sudan grass (223, Sorghum arundinaceum), 

147

sugarcane (210, Saccharum officinarum), 140

sunolgrass (188, Phalaris coerulescens), 128

swamp prickle grass (235, Sporobolus 

schoenoides), 153

swamp timothy (235, Sporobolus 

schoenoides), 153

sweet signalgrass (170, Moorochloa 

eruciformis), 119

Swiss rye grass (161, Lolium rigidum), 113

tall fescue (158, Lolium arundinaceum), 112

tapertip false wheatgrass (136, Eremopyrum 

bonaepartis), 100

teff (132, Eragrostis tef), 98

thatching grass (151, Hyparrhenia hirta), 108

timothy (191, Phleum pratense), 130

torpedo grass (177, Panicum repens), 123

twisted-awned spear grass (255, Stipellula 

capensis), 163

two-spiked bread grass (15, Andropogon 

distachyos), 36

vetiver grass (69, Chrysopogon 

zizanioides), 65

wall barley (148, Hordeum murinum), 106

water beardgrass (204, Polypogon viridis), 

137

water bent (204, Polypogon viridis), 137

water couch (183, Paspalum distichum), 126

water paspalidium (216, Setaria geminata), 

143

white-haired rosette grass (97, Digitaria 

ciliaris), 80

wild cane (211, Saccharum spontaneum), 140

wire grass (113, Eleusine indica), 88

wiry lovegrass (134, Eragrostis tenuifolia), 99

witch grass (117, Elymus repens), 90

yard grass (113, Eleusine indica), 88

yellow foxtail grass (220, Setaria pumila), 

145

Names without an asterisk are accepted; those with an asterisk are synonyms. Page numbers in bold italics denote account description.

Achnatherum miliaceum*, 119

Acrachne racemosa, 16, 22, 29

Aegilops bicornis, 25, 29

geniculata, 24, 30

kotschyi, 21, 30

longissima, 21, 22, 31

peregrina, 21, 22, 32

ventricosa, 24, 32

Aeluropus lagopoides, 17, 33

littoralis, 17, 33

Agropyron cristatum, 17, 24, 34

Agrostis holciformis*, 132

miliacea*, 119

stolonifera, 16, 34

Alopecurus myosuroides, 25, 35

Ammochloa palaestina, 24, 35

Ammophila arenaria, 14, 36

Andropogon distachyos, 26, 36

Aristida adscensionis, 22, 37

funiculata, 26, 37

mutabilis, 26, 38

Arundo donax, 14, 38

Avena barbata, 28, 39

 subsp. barbata, 39

 subsp. wiestii, 39

fatua, 24, 28, 39

longiglumis, 28, 39

sativa, 28, 40

sterilis, 24, 28, 40

 subsp. ludoviciana, 41

 subsp. sterilis, 41

Boissiera squarrosa*, 51

Brachiaria deflexa*, 174

eruciformis*, 119

leersioides*, 175

mutica*, 175

ramosa*, 176

reptans*, 176

Index of Scientific Names
200 • SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO BOTANY

Brachypodium distachyon, 27, 42

Briza maxima, 28, 42

minor, 28, 43

Bromus aegyptiacus, 27, 43

alopecuros, 27, 44

catharticus, 27, 44

danthoniae, 24, 35

diandrus, 27, 45

 var. diandrus, 46

 var. rigidus, 46

fasciculatus, 18, 46

hordeaceus, 27, 46

inermis, 18, 47

japonicus, 28, 48

lanceolatus, 27, 48

lepidus, 18, 49

madritensis, 21, 49

pectinatus, 18, 50

pulchellus, 27, 50

pumilio, 18, 19, 51

rubens, 28, 51

scoparius, 28, 52

sterilis, 27, 52

tectorum, 28, 53

 subsp. lucidus, 53

 subsp. tectorum, 53

Catapodium rigidum, 24, 28, 53

Cenchrus americanus, 26, 54

biflorus, 18, 25, 55

ciliaris, 15, 18, 55

clandestinus, 15, 56

echinatus, 26, 56

longisetus, 14, 57

orientalis, 20, 57

pennisetiformis, 26, 58

ramosissimus, 15, 58

setaceus, 26, 59

setiger, 16, 59

sieberianus, 18, 60

spicatus*, 52

violaceus, 16, 25, 60

Centropodia forskalii, 15, 61

fragilis, 15, 61

Chloris flagellifera, 17, 62

gayana, 16, 17, 62

prieurii, 23, 63

pycnothrix, 15, 22, 63

virgata, 16, 20, 21, 64

Chrysopogon plumulosus, 26, 64

zizanioides, 20, 65

Coelachyrum brevifolium, 20, 21, 22, 65

Coix lacryma-jobi, 25, 66, 186

Cortaderia selloana, 18, 19, 66

Corynephorus divaricatus, 24, 67

Crithopsis delileana, 25, 67

Crypsis aculeata*, 150

alopecuroides*, 151

schoenoides*, 153

vaginiflora*, 152

Cutandia dichotoma, 20, 21, 68

maritima, 24, 25, 68

memphitica, 21, 69

Cymbopogon citratus, 20, 69

flexuosus, 20, 70

iwarancusa, 22, 70

jwarancusa*, 70

martini, 27, 71

nardus, 17, 27, 71

schoenanthus, 17, 24, 27, 71

 subsp. proximus, 72

 subsp. schoenanthus, 72

Cynodon dactylon, 14, 73

transvaalensis, 14, 73

Cynosurus coloratus, 24, 73

echinatus, 24, 74

Dactylis glomerata, 24, 75

Dactyloctenium aegyptium, 14, 16, 75

aristatum, 16, 76

scindicum, 14, 76

Danthoniopsis barbata, 15, 76

Desmazeria philistaea subsp. rohlfsiana, 20, 

27, 77

Desmostachya bipinnata, 20, 77

Dichanthium annulatum, 17, 78

foveolatum, 21, 79

Digitaria ciliaris, 27, 80

nodosa, 15, 16, 80

sanguinalis, 15, 81

velutina, 27, 81

violascens, 14, 82

Dinebra panicea, 27, 82

retroflexa, 27, 83

Diplachne fusca, 16, 83

Echinochloa colona, 25, 84

crus-galli, 27, 84

pyramidalis, 14, 84

stagnina, 15, 85

Ehrharta calycina, 20, 23, 86

Eleusine africana, 16, 23, 86

coracana, 20, 88

floccifolia, 20, 88

indica, 18, 88

Elionurus royleanus, 20, 21, 89, 183

Elymus elongatus, 19, 89

farctus, 17, 90

repens, 20, 90

Enneapogon desvauxii, 16, 91

lophotrichus, 21, 22, 91

persicus, 17, 20, 22, 92 

scaber, 26, 92 

Enteropogon prieurii*, 63

Eragrostis aegyptiaca, 21, 93

 subsp. aegyptiaca, 93

 subsp. humifusa, 93

amabilis*, 99

aspera, 23, 93

barrelier, 23, 93, 

cilianensis, 22, 94

ciliaris, 23, 26, 94

japonica, 22, 23, 95

lepida, 23, 95

minor, 23, 96

pilosa, 23, 96

sarmentosa, 15, 97

tef, 23, 98

tenella, 23, 99

tenuifolia, 23, 26, 99

tremula, 22, 100

Eremopoa altaica*, 133

Eremopoa persica*, 134

Eremopyrum bonaepartis, 24, 100

distans, 25, 101

Festuca arundinacea*, 112

brevis, 25, 101

bromoides, 27, 102

fasciculata, 19, 102

fusca*, 83

myuros, 24, 27, 103

pectinella, 23, 103

Gastridium phleoides, 24, 104

Halopyrum mucronatum, 17, 104

Hemarthria altissima, 16, 105

Holcus annuus, 26, 105

Hordeum marinum, 25, 106

 subsp. gussoneanum, 106

 subsp. marinum, 106

murinum, 25, 106

 subsp. glaucum, 107

 subsp. leporinum, 107

spontaneum, 25, 107

vulgare, 25, 108

Hyparrhenia hirta, 19, 108

Imperata cylindrica, 20, 109

Lachnagrostis phleoides*, 104

Lagurus ovatus, 24, 110

Lamarckia aurea, 16, 110

Lasiurus scindicus, 83

Leersia hexandra, 89

Leptochloa fusca*, 83

panicea*, 89

Leptothrium senegalense, 20, 21, 111

Lolium arundinaceum, 24, 112

multiflorum, 25, 112

perenne, 25, 113

rigidum, 25, 113

temulentum, 25, 114

Lygeum spartum, 19, 115

Megathyrsus maximus, 16, 20, 115

Melanocenchris abyssinica, 23, 116

Melica persica, 20, 116

 subsp. canescens, 116

 subsp. inaequiglumis, 116

Melinis minutiflora, 14, 26, 117

repens, 16, 117

 subsp. grandiflora, 118

 subsp. repens, 118

Miscanthus sinensis, 20, 118

Moorochloa eruciformis, 20, 22, 119

Ochthochloa compressa*, 62

Oloptum miliaceum, 19, 119

Oryza sativa, 24, 120

Oryzopsis holciformis*, 132

miliacea*, 119

Panicum antidotale, 17, 121

coloratum, 16, 23, 121

compressa*, 62

eruciforme*, 119
NUMBER 103

• 201

hygrocharis, 15, 17, 22, 122

maximum*, 115

miliaceum, 17, 122

repens, 16, 17, 20, 123

turgidum, 15, 123

Parapholis filiformis, 19, 124

incurva, 25, 124

marginata, 19, 125

Paspalidium geminatum*, 143

obtusifolium*, 145

Paspalum dilatatum, 15, 28, 125

distichum, 14, 126

racemosum, 15, 18, 19, 126

Pennisetum ciliare*, 55

clandestinum*, 56

divisum*, 58

glaucum*, 54

orientale*, 57

setaceum*, 59

sieberianum*, 60

villosum*, 57

violaceum*, 60

Phalaris aquatica, 16, 20, 127

arundinacea, 20, 127

canariensis, 24, 128

coerulescens, 16, 128

minor, 24, 129

paradoxa, 24, 129

Phleum pratense, 27, 130

subulatum, 28, 130

Phragmites australis, 14, 131

 subsp. altissimus, 131

 subsp. australis, 131

mauritianus, 14, 132

Piptatherum holciforme, 19, 132

miliaceum*, 119

Poa amabilis*, 99

annua, 25, 133

diaphora, 28, 133

infirma, 25, 134

panicea*, 82

persica, 19, 134

sinaica, 16, 135

Pogonatherum paniceum, 14, 135

Polypogon maritimus, 28, 136

monspeliensis, 24, 136

viridis, 16, 137

Rostraria cristata, 28, 137

hispida, 27, 138

obtusiflora, 26, 138

pumila, 18, 27, 139

rohlfsii, 27, 139

Saccharum officinarum, 14, 140

spontaneum, 15, 140

 subsp. aegyptiacum, 140

 subsp. spontaneum, 140

Schismus arabicus, 24, 141

barbatus, 22, 141

Schmidtia pappophoroides, 16, 142

Schoenefeldia gracilis, 22, 143

Setaria geminata, 14, 143

italica, 26, 144

megaphylla, 19, 144

obtusifolia, 15, 145

pumila, 26, 145

verticillata, 23, 146

viridis, 26, 146

Sorghum arundinaceum, 16, 22, 147

bicolor, 23, 147

bicolor × arundinaceum*, 148

halepense, 16, 18, 148

virgatum, 27, 148

× drummondii, 23, 148

Sphenopus divaricatus, 20, 21, 149

Sporobolus aculeatus, 21, 150

alopecuroides, 26, 151

ioclados, 17, 26, 151

natalensis, 26, 152

niliacus, 12, 20, 152

pungens, 14, 153

schoenoides, 25, 153

spicatus, 14, 154

wrightii, 26, 154

Stenotaphrum secundatum, 14, 155

Stipa arabica, 18, 155

capensis*, 163

gigantea var. lagascae*, 156 

lagascae, 22, 156

parviflora*, 164

Stipagrostis acutiflora, 17, 156

ciliata, 21, 22, 157

drarii, 17, 157

hirtigluma, 23, 158

lanata, 18, 158

multinerva, 18, 159

obtusa, 18, 159

paradisea, 17, 160

plumosa, 17, 160

raddiana, 18, 161

scoparia, 17, 161

shawii, 18, 162

uniplumis, 24, 162

vulnerans, 17, 163

Stipella capensis*, 163

parviflora*, 164

Stipellula capensis, 18, 163

parviflora, 26, 164

Taeniatherum caput-medusae, 24, 164 

Tetrapogon cenchriformis, 22, 164

villosus, 22, 23, 165

Themeda triandra, 23, 165

villosa, 23, 26, 166

Tragus berteronianus, 21, 167

racemosus, 21, 22, 167

Tricholaena teneriffae, 18, 168

Trichoneura mollis, 28, 168

Triplachne nitens, 23, 169

Triraphis pumilio, 26, 170

Trisetaria glumacea, 23, 170

koelerioides, 18, 171

linearis, 18, 19, 171

macrochaeta, 18, 172

Triticum aestivum, 25, 172

 subsp. aestivum, 172

 subsp. dicoccum*, 173

dicoccum, 25, 173

durum, 15, 25, 173

pyramidale, 25, 173

turgidum, 24, 173

Urochloa deflexa, 26, 174

leersioides, 18, 175

mutica, 16, 175

panicoides, 15, 26, 176

ramosa, 21, 22, 176 

reptans, 16, 176 

Vossia cuspidata, 14, 177 

Vulpia brevis*, 101 

bromoides*, 102 

fasciculata*, 102 

myuros*, 103 

pectinella*, 103 

Zea mays, 15, 178 

 subsp. mays, 179

 subsp. mexicana, 179
For comprehensive guidelines and specifications, visit www.scholarlypress.si.edu or Open SI (http://opensi.si.edu).

ABSTRACTS must not exceed 300 words. 

TEXT must be prepared in a recent version of Microsoft Word; use a Times font in 12 point for regular text; be double 

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TAXONOMIC KEYS in natural history papers should use the aligned-couplet form for zoology. If cross referencing is 

required between key and text, do not include page references within the key but number the keyed-out taxa, using the 

same numbers with their corresponding heads in the text.

SYNONYMY IN ZOOLOGY must use the short form (taxon, author, year:page), with full reference at the end of the 

paper under “References.”

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SUMMARY OF REQUIREMENTS FOR SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS SERIES