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Mediterranean-hair grass

Rostraria cristata

Family: Poaceae Genus: Rostraria Species: cristata

Synonyms: Alopecurus ciliatus, Dactylis pungens, Bromus alopecuroides, Aira elongata, Bromus poiformis, Koeleria hirta, Koeleria aegyptiaca, Koeleria phleoides var. robusta, Rostraria recurviflora, Rostraria cristata subsp. subcapitata, Rostraria glabriflora, Koeleria phleoides subvar. abyssinica, Koeleria phleoides var. brachystachys, Koeleria phleoides subvar. parviflora, Lophochloa cristata, Bromus phleoides, Koeleria phleoides f. anomala, Koeleria phleoides var. persica, Lophochloa cristata var. pseudolobulata, Poa typhoides, Koeleria phleoides f. glabrescens, Koeleria phleoides f. maritima, Lophochloa paradoxa, Koeleria phleoides var. integrata, Koeleria campestris, Koeleria phleoides subvar. glabriflora, Koeleria dactyloides, Koeleria phleoides, Koeleria phleoides var. hypathera, Bromus trivialis, Festuca phleoides, Koeleria phleoides subvar. longistachya, Leptochloa phleoidea, Trisetum cristatum, Koeleria gerardii, Trisetum minutiflorum, Koeleria phleoides subvar. robusta, Festuca gerardii, Panicum astracanicum, Koeleria phleoides var. anomala, Koeleria phleoides var. luxurians, Koeleria phleoides f. breviaristata, Avena panicea, Dactylis spicata, Koeleria phleoides var. pseudolobulata, Lophochloa phleoides, Wilhelmsia caucasica, Koeleria phleoides var. pumila, Koeleria feldmannii, Festuca glaucescens, Bromus cristatus, Koeleria tuberculosa, Rostraria cristata var. pubiglumis, Koeleria phleoides f. transiens, Koeleria phleoides var. maritima, Koeleria phleoides var. nitens, Koeleria phleoides f. lobulata, Koeleria phleoides var. macrantha, Koeleria phleoides var. azorensis, Koeleria figarei, Lophochloa phleoides var. trichantha, Lophochloa cristata var. vivipara, Koeleria phleoides var. submutica, Koeleria phleoides var. vivipara, Koeleria phleoides var. glabriflora, Brachypodium phleoides, Koeleria phleoides f. submutica, Rostraria cristata var. glabriflora, Koeleria paradoxa, Koeleria phleoides f. exilis, Koeleria collina, Koeleria phleoides f. vivipara, Poa phleoides, Koeleria phleoides var. subcapitata, Bromus dactyloides, Rostraria pubescens, Rostraria cristata var. subcapitata, Koeleria phleoides var. recurviflora, Rostraria cristata var. vestita, Trisetaria cristata, Koeleria laxa, Schedonorus gerardii, Koeleria brachystachya, Ktenosachne tenerrima, Koeleria phleoides var. major, Koeleria trapezuntina, Koeleria phleoides var. pubiflora, Rostraria brachystachya, Koeleria phleoides f. foliosa, Koeleria recurviflora, Koeleria phleoides var. parviflora, Koeleria phleoides f. multiaristata, Koeleria phleoides var. polyantha, Koeleria avenacea, Bromus cultus, Koeleria phleoides var. fallax, Koeleria phleoides var. brachystachya, Koeleria phleoides subsp. clarkeana, Koeleria trivialis, Trisetaria phleoides, Rostraria cristata subsp. glabriflora, Aira phleoides, Rostraria smyrnacea

Mediterranean-hair grass (en)
Rostraria cristata โ€” flower
Rostraria cristata โ€” flower

Botanical Description

Rostraria cristata is a slender annual grass of the Poaceae family growing 5-40 cm tall with tufted, erect to ascending culms that are softly pubescent at the nodes. Leaf blades are narrow, flat, 1-3 mm wide, soft, and finely pilose on both surfaces; the sheaths are loose and hairy, and the ligule is a short, blunt, membranous rim. The inflorescence is a dense, spike-like, cylindrical to ovoid contracted panicle 1-5 cm long and 5-10 mm wide, often interrupted at the base and silvery-green with a silky sheen. Spikelets are crowded, 3-4 mm long, laterally compressed, containing 2-4 florets; lemmas are membranous, keeled, hairy at the apex, and bear a very short subterminal awn or mucro. Glumes are persistent, unequal, and as long as the spikelet. Native to dry open habitats throughout the Mediterranean basin, North Africa, and western Asia, and naturalised widely elsewhere, it flowers in spring.

Native Region: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Azores, Baleares, Bulgaria, Canary Is., Cape Verde, Corse, Cyprus, East Aegean Is., Egypt, Eritrea, France, Greece, Gulf States, India, Iran, Iraq, Italy, Kriti, Krym, Kuwait, Lebanon-Syria, Libya, Madeira, Mauritania, Morocco, North Caucasus, Oman, Pakistan, Palestine, Portugal, Sardegna, Saudi Arabia, Sicilia, Sinai, Spain, Sudan, Tadzhikistan, Transcaucasus, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkey-in-Europe, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, West Himalaya, Yugoslavia

Cultural & Historical Context

Traditional American Uses

None Documented

Chemistry & External Identifiers

Trefle ID
234572

Important Disclaimer

This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace professional medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before using any herbal remedy, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, or taking medications.