Ampelodesmos
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| Ampelodesmos | ||||||||||||||||
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| Ampelodesmos mauritanicus (Poir.) T. Dur. & Schinz |
Ampelodesmos is a monotypic genus of grass containing the single species Ampelodesmos mauritanicus, which is known by the common names stramma, Mauritania grass, rope grass, and dis grass. This is a clumping perennial grass which is native to the Mediterranean but has been introduced elsewhere and is cultivated as an ornamental. Its nodding flower panicles can be nearly two feet long. In its native area it is used as a fiber for making mats, brooms, and twine. The genus name comes from the Greek ampelos, "vine", and desmos, "bond", from its former use as a string to tie up grapevines.
