Catapodium rigidum, ferngrass, is a species of annual grass in the family Poaceae (true grasses), distributed around the Mediterranean and the Middle East. It has been widely introduced throughout drier parts of the world, including parts of North America, South America, South Africa, Korea, Australia, and New Zealand.[1] Individuals can reach 20 cm (8 in).[2]

Catapodium rigidum
habit
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Clade: Commelinids
Order: Poales
Family: Poaceae
Subfamily: Pooideae
Genus: Catapodium
Species:
C. rigidum
Binomial name
Catapodium rigidum
Synonyms[1]
List
    • Catapodium hemipoa (Delile ex Spreng.) Laínz
    • Catapodium hemipoa subsp. occidentale (Paunero) H.Scholz & S.Scholz
    • Catapodium occidentale Paunero
    • Catapodium rigidum subsp. majus (C.Presl) F.H.Perring & P.D.Sell
    • Catapodium rigidum f. robustum (Duval-Jouve) O.Bolòs & Vigo
    • Catapodium rigidum subsp. spicatum (Trab.) Rivas Mart.
    • Catapodium rigidum var. spicatum (Trab.) O.Bolòs & Vigo
    • Catapodium zwierleinii (Lojac.) Brullo
    • Desmazeria rigida (L.) Tutin
    • Desmazeria rigida subsp. hemipoa (Delile ex Spreng.) Stace
    • Desmazeria rigida var. major (C.Presl) Stace
    • Desmazeria rigida var. spicata (Trab.) O.Bolòs & Vigo
    • Diplachne rigida (L.) Chapm.
    • Festuca divaricata Roth
    • Festuca hemipoa Delile ex Spreng.
    • Festuca maritima subsp. hemipoa (Delile ex Spreng.) Ball
    • Festuca rigens Trin. ex Steud.
    • Festuca rigida (L.) Raspail
    • Glyceria rigida (L.) Sm.
    • Megastachya pulchella Roem. & Schult.
    • Megastachya rigida (L.) Roem. & Schult.
    • Poa cristata Walter
    • Poa hemipoa (Delile ex Spreng.) Loret & Barrandon
    • Poa pulchella Steven ex M.Bieb.
    • Poa rigida L.
    • Sclerochloa filiformis Tornab.
    • Sclerochloa hemipoa (Delile ex Spreng.) Guss.
    • Sclerochloa patens C.Presl
    • Sclerochloa racemosa (Sennen) Sennen
    • Sclerochloa rigida (L.) Link
    • Sclerochloa rigida var. major C.Presl
    • Sclerochloa zwierleinii Lojac.
    • Scleropoa hemipoa (Delile ex Spreng.) Parl.
    • Scleropoa racemosa Sennen
    • Scleropoa rigida (L.) Griseb.
    • Scleropoa rigida subsp. hemipoa (Delile ex Spreng.) Bonnier & Layens
    • Scleropoa subspicata Sennen
    • Scleropoa villaris Sennen & Mauricio
    • Synaphe rigida (L.) Dulac
    • Triticum hemipoa (Delile ex Spreng.) Delile ex Ten.

Identification

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The flowerhead is branched and has a ridged stem

Fern-grass can be difficult to distinguish from sea fern-grass in places where they occur together, but it has a more open panicle and the stalk to the inflorescence is ridged, whereas it is rounded on one side in sea fern-grass.[3][4]

Subtaxa

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Botanical illustration

The following subtaxa are accepted:[1]

  • Catapodium rigidum subsp. hemipoa (Delile ex Spreng.) Kerguélen - more narrowly distributed from Macaronesia and the Mediterranean to Iran
  • Catapodium rigidum var. majus (C.Presl) M.Laínz - Middle East
  • Catapodium rigidum subsp. rigidum – entire range, including introductions

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Catapodium rigidum (L.) C.E.Hubb". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 23 March 2022.
  2. ^ "Catapodium rigidum (L.) C.E.Hubb. - Encyclopedia of Life". eol.org. Retrieved 2022-02-04.
  3. ^ Cope, Tom; Gray, Alan (2009). Grasses of the British Isles. London: Botanical Society of the British Isles. ISBN 978-0-901158-420.
  4. ^ Stace, C.A. (2019). New Flora of the British Isles (4th ed.). Suffolk: C&M Floristics. ISBN 978-1-5272-2630-2.