what are awns
Awns are characteristic of various plant families, including Geraniaceae and many grasses . In grasses awns typically extend from the lemmas of the florets. This often makes the hairy appearance of the grass synfloresce. Awns may be long (several centimeters) or short, straight or curved, single or multiple per floret. Some genera are named after their awns, such as the three-awns (Aristida). In some species, the awns can contribute significantly to photosynthesis, as, for example, in barley. The awns of wild emmer wheat spikelets effectively self-cultivate by propelling themselves mechanically into soils.