Aegilops ventricosa Tausch

Spice Inflorescence

Family: GRAMINEAE (POACEAE)

Genus: Aegilops

Catalan common name: Blat bord. Blat d'En Manà. Blat de canya vermella. Blat de perdiu. Blat del diable. Bonyets.

Spanish common name: Rompesacos.

Province distribution: Alacant. Balearic Islands. Castelló. Tarragona. València.

Distribution in the islands: Mallorca. Menorca. Cabrera.

General distribution (Phytogeography): South Mediterranean

IUCN Category: LCLeast concern

Flowering time: JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Life-forms: Terophyte.

Habitats: Cultivated fields, path and road sides, disturbed zones. Therophytic calicole fields. Cultivated fields, path and road sides.

Characteristics: This Gramene is easy to identify because the small spikes are very swollen and pot-bellied (hence the name), and are also firmly stuck to the stem. Each small spike has a long awn which is also stuck to the stem. There is no other similar species. It lives by the sides of paths and in fields. It flowers at the end of spring.