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Common Mediterranean grass

Schismus barbatus

Also called Kelch Grass, Arabian Grass, Araby Grass, Mediterranean Grass, Camel Grass

Common Mediterranean grass
Photo: Pompilid, CC BY-SA 3.0

Schismus barbatus is a small annual grass that forms low clumps and grows in disturbed, dry ground across the Mediterranean and Middle East. It is a weed of open, sunny sites rather than a garden plant, so it needs little more than sun and very little water.

Family
Poaceae (Grass family)
Grows as
Grass, Annual
Light
Full sun
Water
Needs very little water; it thrives on rainfall alone in dry sites.
Soil
Poor, sandy or gravelly soil; tolerates disturbed ground.
How easy
Easy
Native range
Medit. to W. Himalaya and Sahara, S. Africa
Climate
subtropical

About

Schismus barbatus is a species of grass known as common Mediterranean grass and kelch-grass. It is native to Eurasia, and it is also known as an introduced species in the southwestern United States. It grows in many habitats, including disturbed areas. It is an annual grass growing in small clumps. The stems grow up to 27 centimeters long and are lined with threadlike leaves. The short inflorescence bears spikelets under a centimeter long.

Other Schismus plants

Arabian schismus

Text excerpted from the Wikipedia article Schismus barbatus by its contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0; the excerpts and the care summary drawn from them are shared under the same licence.

The care summary was written by AI (Claude, Anthropic) from the sources on this page, with general growing knowledge where they are silent. Check before relying on it.

Life form, climate and native range: World Checklist of Vascular Plants, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (CC BY 3.0), reformatted; see Plants of the World Online.

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