Mediterranean Grass
Schismus barbatus
This photo was taken in Phoenix May 2006 and is hosted at Wikimedia.
WINTER-SPRING ANNUAL : Low growing tufted grass mostly less than 20 cm
tall.
LEAVES Very narrow blades. Notice long hairs at ligules.
RANGE : Abundant in many areas of the Sonoran, Chihuahuan and Mohave
Deserts of Arizona, Sonora, California especially where original vegetation has
been damaged/removed. Vacant urban lots and road sides for example. Exotic
invasive with a considerable impact on fire ecology. Schismus arabicus is
very similar and is also called Mediterranean Grass and has also been
introduced in the southwest deserts.
FLOWERS: Small spikelets on narrow spiked inflorescence.