common mediterraneangrass
(Schismus barbatus)
This species is Introduced in the United States
ORIGIN: Northern Africa, Mediterranean, Middle East
GROWTH TRAITS: Schismus barbatus is an annual bunchgrass growing up to 8” tall (20 cm) from extensive root systems near the soil surface. Stems are round in cross-section and can be erect or sprawling. Leaves are usually inrolled and thread-like, typically up to 1 mm wide, and less than 8” long (20 cm). Ligules are rings of hairs. Flowering occurs in spring. Florets occur in dense clusters up to 2” long (5 cm). Florets are enclosed by 2 bracts. The outermost bract (lemma) has 2 lobes while the innermost bract (palea) does not. Mediterraneangrass has a short awn, and the palea extends nearly as long as the lemma lobes. All parts of the plants are green when young, turning purple with maturity.
REPRODUCTION: Spreads by seed only. Seeds may remain viable in the soil for multiple years.
HABITAT: Thrives in arid to semi-arid regions, growing in between shrubs where they avoid extensive shading. They can be found in disturbed and undisturbed ground.
LOOK-ALIKES: Most bunchgrasses that resemble this species are perennials and typically grow larger than Mediterraneangrass. The native six-weeks fescue (Vulpia octoflora) and exotic hardgrass (Schlerochloa dura) are annuals, low-growing, and have similar inflorescences. Six-weeks fescue has obvious awns 0.1-1” long (3-25 mm) while hardgrass has a short inflorescence (<1”, 2 cm) with flattened florets clustered on one side of the flowering stem.
CITATIONS:
Winston, R.L., Andreas, J.E., Milan, J., DesCamp, W., Randell, C.B., and M. Schwarzlander. 2014. New Invaders of the Southwest. United States Department of Agriculture, Forest Health Technology Enterprise Team. FHTET-2014-12. Retrieved from https://bugwoodcloud.org/resource/files/14767.pdf
GROWTH TRAITS: Schismus barbatus is an annual bunchgrass growing up to 8” tall (20 cm) from extensive root systems near the soil surface. Stems are round in cross-section and can be erect or sprawling. Leaves are usually inrolled and thread-like, typically up to 1 mm wide, and less than 8” long (20 cm). Ligules are rings of hairs. Flowering occurs in spring. Florets occur in dense clusters up to 2” long (5 cm). Florets are enclosed by 2 bracts. The outermost bract (lemma) has 2 lobes while the innermost bract (palea) does not. Mediterraneangrass has a short awn, and the palea extends nearly as long as the lemma lobes. All parts of the plants are green when young, turning purple with maturity.
REPRODUCTION: Spreads by seed only. Seeds may remain viable in the soil for multiple years.
HABITAT: Thrives in arid to semi-arid regions, growing in between shrubs where they avoid extensive shading. They can be found in disturbed and undisturbed ground.
LOOK-ALIKES: Most bunchgrasses that resemble this species are perennials and typically grow larger than Mediterraneangrass. The native six-weeks fescue (Vulpia octoflora) and exotic hardgrass (Schlerochloa dura) are annuals, low-growing, and have similar inflorescences. Six-weeks fescue has obvious awns 0.1-1” long (3-25 mm) while hardgrass has a short inflorescence (<1”, 2 cm) with flattened florets clustered on one side of the flowering stem.
CITATIONS:
Winston, R.L., Andreas, J.E., Milan, J., DesCamp, W., Randell, C.B., and M. Schwarzlander. 2014. New Invaders of the Southwest. United States Department of Agriculture, Forest Health Technology Enterprise Team. FHTET-2014-12. Retrieved from https://bugwoodcloud.org/resource/files/14767.pdf
Selected Images
Maps
EDDMapS Distribution - This map is incomplete and is based only on current site and county level reports made by experts, herbaria, and literature. For more information, visit www.eddmaps.org
State Lists - This map identifies those states that have this species on their invasive species list or law.
Invasive Listing Sources
Taxonomic Rank
| Domain: Eukarya |
| Kingdom: Plantae |
| Phylum: Magnoliophyta |
| Class: Magnoliopsida |
| Superorder: Lilianae |
| Order: Poales |
| Family: Poaceae |
| Subfamily: Danthonioideae |
| Tribe: Danthonieae |
| Genus: Schismus |
| Schismus barbatus |
References
Common Name Reference: Weed Science Society of America Common Names List
Scientific Name Reference: USDA, NRCS. 2010. The PLANTS Database. National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, LA, USA.