Ammochloa

Ammochloa is a genus of plants in the Poaceae family. It is native to Eurasia and Africa. It is the only genus in the subtribe Ammochloinae.

Description

It is an annual genus with ascending or decumbent geniculate culms; 0.5–8–25 cm long. Ligule with eciliate membrane, or absent (1). Leaf margins cartilaginous. The inflorescence is a panicle; not decidua as a unit, or decidua; exserta.

Fertile floricles have elliptic or ovate lemma; membranous, or cardboard, or coriaceous. It lacks lodicules. three anthers. Two stigmata; feathery, or pubescent. The fruit is a caryopse with an adherent pericarp; ellipsoid, or oblong; rosted apex.

Distribution

It is distributed throughout Europe, Africa, temperate Asia.

Taxonomy

The genus was described by Pierre Edmond Boissier and published in Diagnoses Plantarum Orientalium Novarum, ser. 1, 13: 51–52. 1854.

Etymology

Ammochloa generic name derived from the Greek words ammos (sand) and chloë (grass), in reference to its habitat.

Species

• Ammochloa involves Murb.
• Ammochloa palaestina Boiss.
  • Ammochloa palaestina var. intermedia Maire " Weiller
  • Ammochloa palaestina var. subacaulis (Balansa ex Coss. & Durieu) Pamp.
• Ammochloa pungens (Schreb.) Boiss.