Description: Erect rhizomatous perennials with stout culms forming compact tufts.
Leaves with ligule membranous; blade stiff, tough, involute.
Inflorescence a pale, spike-like panicle.
Spikelets pedicellate, laterally compressed, closely overlapping, disarticulating at maturity above the glumes, with 1 bisexual floret, rachilla produced as a short bristle. Glumes chaffy, acuminate, minutely rough on the keels. Lemmas slightly shorter than the glumes, papery, acute, with a very short stout subterminal awn near the apex; callus bearded. Palea nearly as long as the lemma, with the 2 keels close together.
Distribution and occurrence: World: 3 species, Northern Hemisphere. Australia: 1 species (naturalized).
Text by S. W. L. Jacobs & S. M. Hastings Taxon concept:
One species in NSW: Ammophila arenaria |
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