Cynosurus cristatus L.

Spice Spike

Family: GRAMINEAE (POACEAE)

Genus: Cynosurus

Catalan common name: Cua de gos.

Spanish common name: Cola de perro.

Province distribution: Barcelona. Girona. Lleida. Tarragona.

General distribution (Phytogeography): Eurosiberian (Submediterranean)

Uses and properties: Edible or foodstuffs.

Flowering time: JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Life-forms: Hemicryptophyte.

Habitats: Mesophyll mountainous grasslands.

Characteristics: Found especially in mown grasslands and mesophylic pastures, but also in clearings and edges of forests, streambanks, etc. A perennial plant with stem that is erect and rough to the touch. The panicle is narrowly oblong (more long than wide), spiciform and unilateral, with a flexile axis. The spikelets are compressed laterally, and can be fertile (with 2-5 flowers) or steriles (and multiflowered). The sterile flowers have linear-lanceolate and membranous glumes. On the other hand, the fertile spikelets are lanceolate, pilose and keeled. Additionally, the glumules of the fertile flowers are wider than those of the steriles.