Hyparrhenia hirta (L.) Stapf

Spice Spike Image 2

Family: GRAMINEAE (POACEAE)

Genus: Hyparrhenia

Sinònims: Hyparrhenia podotricha (Hochst.) Andersson

Catalan common name: Fenal. Fenàs. Fenàs de cuca.

Spanish common name: Cerrillo. Triquera borde.

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

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

General distribution (Phytogeography): Some regions

IUCN Category: LCLeast concern

Flowering time: JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Life-forms: Hemicryptophyte.

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

Characteristics: A tall plant, normally over a metre, which appears forming carpets, since it has underground rhizomes. It is recognised because the long, yellow or brown spikes are found in pairs and are quite hairy; moreover at the base of the branches which hold the spikelets there is a spathe-shaped bract. It lives in dry, hot places, often on slopes, path-sides and roadsides. It can be in flower almost the whole year round.