Red Bristle Grass
Scientific name: Anisantha sterilis (L.) Nevski.
Family: Poaceae
MORPHOLOGY
Habit and dimensions: Annual herbaceous plants, typically with an erect or geniculate-ascending growth habit, reaching a height of 20 – 40 cm (maximum 100 cm).
Stem: The stems are hollow with a more or less round cross-section (diameter: 5 mm). The stems are clustered with a smooth and glabrous surface.
Leaves: Leaves are arranged alternately, emerging from various nodes along the stem. They consist of a sheath that embraces the stem and is pubescent, a ligule, and a blade. The veins are parallel-veined. The blade is thin and soft in texture, typically linear-lanceolate and flat in shape, normally glabrous, otherwise ciliate at the base and margin, but rarely. Leaf dimensions: width 4 – 10 mm; length 5 – 20 cm.
Flowers: The inflorescences are terminal or axillary spikes, usually branched and have the form of a loose panicle. The branches are nodding, becoming pendulous after anthesis; they are rough and usually bear a single spikelet (rarely 2 – 3 spikelets). The fertile flowers are actinomorphic and formed by 3 whorls. It blooms from March to June.
Fruits and Seeds: The fruits are caryopses, small dark brown-colored indehiscent grains, ovoid in shape, with a pericarp consisting of a thin wall surrounding the individual seed.
DISTRIBUTION AND HABITAT
Widespread throughout Italy with numerous subspecies present in various areas, in fallow fields and abandoned lands, from 0 to 1,300 m altitude.
Photo: Used under free license from Saxifraga, Jan van der Straaten, Marijke Verhagen.
