Lygeum

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Lygeum
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Monocots
(unranked): Commelinids
Order: Poales
Family: Poaceae
Genus: Lygeum
Loefl. ex L.
Species: L. spartum
Binomial name
Lygeum spartum
Loefl. ex L.
Lygeum spartum
MHNT

Lygeum is a monotypic genus[1] of grasses in the family Poaceae containing the single species Lygeum spartum. It is native to southern Europe and North Africa, where its distribution includes Greece, Italy, Spain, Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, and Tunisia.[2] Its common names include albardine[2] and lygeum.[3] It is similar to esparto (Macrochloa tenacissima)[4] and has been used for similar purposes under the name esparto grass.[5]

Description

This is a rhizomatous perennial grass growing up to 75 centimeters tall.[6] The rhizome and the base of the stem are scaly.[7] The leaves are threadlike but stiff[6] and tough, measuring up to 50 centimeters long.[7] The inflorescence is made up of a few long-haired spikelets each up to 4.5 centimeters long. They are wrapped in a lance-shaped bract called a spatheole.[6] This sheath is 3 to 9 centimeters long and can have a sharp point.[7]

References

  1. ↑ Abdeddaim-Boughanmi, K. and M. Kaid-Harche. (2009). Structure, ultrastructure of the anther, pollen microsporogenesis and morphology of pollen grains of two populations of Lygeum spartum L. in Algeria. American Journal of Agricultural and Biological Sciences 4(3), 201-05.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Lygeum spartum. Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN).
  3. ↑ Lygeum spartum. Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS).
  4. ↑ Garcı́a-Fuentes, A., et al. (2001). Review of communities of Lygeum spartum L. in the south-eastern Iberian Peninsula (western Mediterranean). Journal of Arid Environments 48(3), 323-39.
  5. ↑ Watson, L. and M. J. Dallwitz. 1992 onwards. Lygeum. The Grass Genera of the World. DELTA – DEscription Language for TAxonomy. Version: 18 December 2012.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Clayton, W. D., et al. (2006 onwards). Lygeum. GrassBase - The Online World Grass Flora.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Lygeum spartum. Flora of Pakistan.
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