TREATMENT FROM THE JEPSON MANUAL (1993)	previous taxon | next taxon Jepson Interchange (more information)
	©Copyright 1993 by the Regents of the University of California

POACEAE

GRASS FAMILY

James P. Smith, Jr., except as specified

Annual to bamboo-like; roots generally fibrous
Stem generally round, hollow; nodes swollen, solid
Leaves alternate, 2-ranked, generally linear; sheath generally open; ligule membranous or hairy, at blade base
Inflorescence various (of generally many spikelets)
Spikelet: glumes generally 2; florets (lemma, palea, flower) 1–many; lemma generally membranous, sometimes glume-like; palea generally ± transparent, ± enclosed by lemma
Flower generally bisexual, minute; stamens generally 3; stigmas generally 2, generally plumose
Fruit: achene-like grain
Genera in family: 650–900 genera; ± 10,000 species: worldwide; greatest economic importance of any family (wheat, rice, maize, millet, sorghum, sugar cane, forage crops, ornamental, weeds; thatching, weaving, building materials)
Reference: [Hitchcock 1951 Manual grasses US, USDA Misc Publ 200; Clayton & Renvoise 1986 Kew Bull Add Series 13]
See Glossary p. 26 for illustrations of general family characteristics. Generally wind-pollinated.

AMPELODESMOS

DIS GRASS

Species in genus: 1 sp
Etymology: (Greek: to tie grapevines together, from early use of leaves)

Introduced

A. mauritanica (Poir.) Durand & Schinz

Perennial
Stems clumped, < 3 m; solid in X -section
Leaf: blade < 1 m, ± 7 mm wide; ligule membranous, ciliate; blade margins serrate, tip long tapered
Inflorescence: panicle-like, ± 1-sided, 2–6 dm, terminal, dense; branches slender, drooping
Spikelet bisexual, 10–16 mm; glumes membranous, acuminate, 3–5-veined; axis breaking apart above glumes and between florets; florets 2–6; callus long-hairy; lemma back rounded, tip 2-toothed, long-hairy near base, 5–7-veined, short-awned at tip between teeth; palea veins extending as 2 short-awns
Ecology: Oak woodland
Elevation: < 1000 m.
Bioregional distribution: Outer North Coast Ranges (Napa Co.)
Distribution outside California: native to Mediterranean
Reference: [Decker 1964 Brittonia 16:76–79]
Cult as ornamental.