Aira praecox

Saçotu

Annual. Stems 2-9 cm, slender, erect to procumbent, 2-3-noded. Leaf sheaths smooth, slightly inflated; ligule 1-3 mm, obtuse at apex; blades 1-4 cm x 0.5-1.5 mm, convolute, glabrous. Panicle 5-20 mm x 1.5-6.5 mm, narrowly oblong, very dense; branches patent, to 1 cm; pedicels 1-4.2 mm. Spikelets 2.5-3.5 mm, oblong. Glumes lanceolate, acute, shiny, slightly scabridulous on keel. Lemma nearly equalling glumes or slightly shorter, scabridulous in upper half, with short hairs at base; awn 3.5-4.1 mm, twisted in lower half, geniculate, arising from lower 1/3 of lemma. Anthers 0.2-0.3 mm. Fl. 5. Alt. s.I.-400 m.

N., W. & C. Europe, Spain, Portugal, S. France, Italy, Crimea. Introduced into N. America. Euro-Sib. element.