Awn (botany)
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For other uses, see Awn.
In botany, an awn is either a hair- or bristle-like appendage on a larger structure, or in the case of the Asteraceae, a stiff needle-like element of the pappus.
Awns are characteristic of many grasses (Poaceae), where they extend from the lemmas of the florets. They often make up the hairiness or other distinctive appearance of foxtails and the like. Awns may be long (several centimeters) or short, straight or curved, single or multiple per floret. Some genera are named after their awns, such as the three-awns (Aristida).
In some species, the awns can contribute significantly to photosynthesis, for example barley.
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