Methodes: 201 (1794).- Type: LINN-HL91-19 southern Europe (holo-LINN).
Cynosurus aureus Linn., Sp. Pl.: 73 (1753).
Regional litterature:
Fl. Ethiopia & Eritrea 7: 17, fig (1995).
Description:
* Slender tufted annual to 40 cm high. Culms geniculately ascending. Leaves flat, 5-20 cm long and 3-7 mm wide; ligule an eciliate membrane of 5-8 mm long.
* Inflorescencea brush-like oblong panicle of 2-6 cm long, the fascicles of spikelets perpendicular to drooping; axis with deciduous clusters; branches pilose. Spikelets subtended by an involucre composed of imperfect spikelets.
* Spikelets straw-coloured, shining, with one fertile floret and one diminished floret at the apex, ovate, laterally compressed, 3-5 mm long. Glumes similar, lanceolate, 3-5 mm long, membranous with an awn of 1 mm long. Lower lemma elliptic, 2.5 mm long, bifid with a straight scabrid awn of 5-8 mm long from the sinus; sterile lemma with an awn of 6 mm long. Anthers 3, 0.5 mm long. Sterile spikelets 5-7-flowered, 4.5-7 mm long with lemmas of 2 mm long.
Distribution West Africa: Sudan (Red Sea Hills)
Distribution world-wide: Western sahara, Morocco, Algeria, Tunesia, Libya, Egypt, Ethiopia and Eritrea, S and E Europe, W Asia; introduced in Australia, America.