Half grass

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Half grass
Halfagras (Macrochloa tenacissima)

Halfagras ( Macrochloa tenacissima )

Systematics
Commelinids
Order : Sweet grass (Poales)
Family : Sweet grasses (Poaceae)
Subfamily : Pooideae
Genre : Macrochloa
Type : Half grass
Scientific name
Macrochloa tenacissima
L.

The esparto ( Macrochloa tenacissima , Syn .: Stipa tenacissima ), also Esparto called, is a native to the western and southern Mediterranean grass species, the leaf fibers for making rope and paper ( Alfa paper are used).

description

The perennial grass forms clumps that are 60 to 150 centimeters high. The leaves are only unfolded and green during the growing season. During dry periods, they are curled up and appear gray. The leaves are densely hairy on top. The ligule is short and ciliate.

The spikelets are in panicles that are 25 to 35 centimeters long. They are single-flowered and close together. The glumes are membranous and acuminate long. Their length is 2.5 to 3 centimeters. The lemma is also membranous. It has two columns at the top. On the approximately 1 centimeter long lemma sits a 4 to 6 centimeter long awn , which is hairy in the lower area.

The flowering period is March to June.

The number of chromosomes is 2n = 24, 66 or 72.

Halfagras ( Macrochloa tenacissima )

Occurrence

Halfagras is native to the southern Iberian Peninsula, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya and the Balearic Islands. It grows in steppes, on pastureland and in open pine forests.

use

The leaves of half grass , like those of esparto grass ( Lygeum spartum ), are used for wickerwork (hats, shoes, bags, mats), ropes and the production of high-quality paper ( alfapapier ).

Systematics

Synonyms for Macrochloa tenacissima ( L. ) Kunth are Stipa tenacissima L. and Lasiagrostis tenacissima (L.) Trin. & Rupr.

One can distinguish the following three subspecies:

  • Macrochloa tenacissima subsp. gabesensis (Moraldo, Raffaelli & Ricceri) H.Scholz & Valdés : It occurs in Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia and Libya.
  • Macrochloa tenacissima subsp. tenacissima : It occurs in the western and southern Mediterranean region in Portugal, Spain, the Balearic Islands, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia and Libya. It is a neophyte in the Canaries and Cyprus.
  • Macrochloa tenacissima subsp. umbrosa F.M.Vázquez : It occurs in Spain.

literature

Individual evidence

  1. ^ A b Peter Schönfelder , Ingrid Schönfelder: The new cosmos Mediterranean flora. Franckh Kosmos Verlag Stuttgart 2008. ISBN 978-3-440-10742-3 . P. 406.
  2. ^ Tropicos. [1]
  3. a b c d e Rafaël Govaerts (ed.): Macrochloa tenacissima. In: World Checklist of Selected Plant Families (WCSP) - The Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew . Accessed January 21, 2020.

Web links

Commons : Halfagras  - album with pictures, videos and audio files