Rough Dog's-tail - introduced (*Cynosurus echinatus)

Native to the Mediterranean region. Annual. C3.

Family. Poaceae (Grass family).

It is a common and widespread weed.

Identification:

• the flower cluster is a dense, one-sided spike-like panicle
• the flower cluster contains fertile spiklets, with 2-6 florets
• there are also many infertile florets, with slender pointed bracts (modified glumes and sterile lemmas) at the base of the flower cluster
• the leaves are flat or folded
• the ligule is membranous and blunt.

  The dense one-sided cluster, the bristly appearance, and the presence of the upper fertile florets and the lower infertile florets make this a distinctive grass.

  It is an environmental weed.

  kynos: a dog, oura: a tail, referring to the shape of the flower cluster; echinatus: with prickles or spines, like a hedgehog.

  1,2,3: Distinctive bristly, more or less, one-sided flower clusters. Castlemaine.

  
  

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