Poaceae

Amelichloa brachychaeta

Common Names: Espartillo

Plant Form: Perennial tussock-forming grass. Size: 40-100 cm tall. Stem: Upright. Leaves: Blades 8-35 cm long, thread-like, often rolled inwardly or outwardly. Rough and hairless surface, with hairy edges and base. Flowers: Elongated clusters 10-25 cm long with widely-spaced cylindrical florets. Brownish-purple in appearance. Fruit and Seeds: Yellowish-brown, narrow, 2-3 mm long seeds, completely hairy. Habitat: Roadsides, grasslands, stream banks, pastures, waste areas. Distinguishing Features: Very hard to distinguish from Broad kernal espartillo (Amelichloa caudata) but usually has more hairy and narrow seeds.