Catapodium marinum (L.) C.E.Hubb.

Spice

Family: GRAMINEAE (POACEAE)

Genus: Catapodium

Sinònims: Desmazeria marina (L.) Druce

Province distribution: Balearic Islands.

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

General distribution (Phytogeography): Some regions

IUCN Category: LCLeast concern

Flowering time: JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Life-forms: Terophyte.

Habitats: Beaches and dunes, sandy soils. Rocky coastlines. Therophytic calicole fields. Therophytic communitie near the sea.

Characteristics: This is a small Gramene, which is always present in terophitic communities near the coast. It is characterised by its spikes, which are very rigid and very slightly branched, with the spikelets well stuck against the rachis. It can be mistaken for Desmazeria rigida, however the latter has a more branched inflorescence and the spikelets are narrower and longer.