Cynosurus echinatus L.

Spice In the field

Family: GRAMINEAE (POACEAE)

Genus: Cynosurus

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

Distribution in the islands: Mallorca. Menorca.

General distribution (Phytogeography): Some regions

IUCN Category: LCLeast concern

Flowering time: JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Life-forms: Terophyte.

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

Characteristics: This Gramene can be recognised because its inflorescence is unilateral, which means all the small spikes are directed towards one side, leaving the rachis uncovered on the other side. The spikelets have long awns which stick out of the panicle. It lives in medows, along path-sides and in grasslands.