Avena sterilis L. subsp. sterilis

Spice Spike

Family: GRAMINEAE (POACEAE)

Genus: Avena

Catalan common name: Cugula.

Province distribution: Alacant. Balearic Islands. Barcelona. Castelló. Girona. Lleida. Tarragona. València.

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

General distribution (Phytogeography): Mediterranean

IUCN Category: LCLeast concern

Flowering time: JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Life-forms: Terophyte.

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

Characteristics: A very common Gramene along path-sides and in grassy fields. It stands out above other other plants, often forming dense populations. The small spikes have two very long, rigid awns, which once dried bend abruptly in an angle. It can be distinguished from Avena barbata because the latter has smaller, thinner spikes and each of the two flowers have two quite long bristles; in Avena sterilis the flowers are only bidentate. It flowers in spring.