Ammophila (plant)

Ammophila is a genus of perennial plants in the family Poaceae. It comprises 13 described species and of these, only 4 accepted.

Ammophila arenaria (izq.) and Agrostis (der.)

Description

It has long rhizomes. Culms erect, or geniculate ascending; from 5 to 12 dm long. Ligule with eciliate membrane. The inflorescence is a spiciform panicle. glumes persistent; three anthers. Ovary glabrous. The fruit is a caryopse with attached pericarp; obovoid. linear thread.

Distribution

It is distributed panclimatically in Europe, Africa, temperate Asia, or Australasia, North America, South America, Antarctica.

Taxonomy

The genus was described by Michel Adanson and published in Icones et Descriptiones Graminum Austriacorum 4: 24. 1809. The type species is: Ammophila arenaria (L.) links

Etymology

Ammophila: Generic name derived from the Ancient Greek words Ammos (ἄμμος), meaning "sand", and phila (ϕιλος), meaning "love".

Accepted species

The following is a list of the species of the genus Ammophila accepted up to November 2013, arranged alphabetically. For each one, the binomial name followed by the author is indicated, abbreviated according to conventions and uses.

• Ammophila arenaria (L.) Link
• Ammophila baltica
• Ammophila breviligulata Fernald
• Ammophila champagnelainensis F.Seym.