Triplachne nitens (Guss.) Link

Family: GRAMINEAE (POACEAE)

Genus: Triplachne

Province distribution: Alacant. Balearic Islands.

Distribution in the islands: Mallorca. Menorca. Ibiza. Formentera.

General distribution (Phytogeography): South Mediterranean

IUCN Category: LCLeast concern

Flowering time: JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Life-forms: Terophyte.

Habitats: Rocky coastlines. Therophytic calicole fields. Coastal zones.

Characteristics: A small annual Graminea that lives in open and very warm places, generally along the littoral. It has a compact inflorescence with a lanceolate contum, with the superior leaf hugging the inflorescence very characteristic. Another characteristic is that the stems are bent at the base. It can be confused with other small Gramineae that live in similar areas, Gastridium ventricosum for example, but normally this species the panicle is not embraced by the superior leaf; best to check the decision with the classification key. Flowers in the spring.