Lamarckia aurea

Description

Lamarckia aurea, commonly known as gold grass, is an annual herbaceous plant that belongs to the family Poaceae. It is the only species within the monotypical genus Lamarckia.

### Vegetative Characteristics

The goldgrass grows in small dense "tufts" and has ascending stalks that reach a height of 5 to 25 centimeters (rarely up to 40 centimeters). The leaves are arranged alternately on the stalk, divided into leaf sheath and leaf spread. They are flat and soft, pale green, and measure 2–8 millimeters in width. The uppermost leaf sheath is somewhat inflated, and the leaf skin has a sharp, skinned hem that is 5 to 10 millimeters long.

### Generative Characteristics

The inflorescence of gold grass is elongated, measuring 4 to 8 centimeters in length and up to 2.5 centimeters in width. It is dense, contracted, and usually one-sided, resembling a "cylinder cleaning brush". The ears are arranged in stalked, descending groups.

Distribution

Lamarckia aurea is native to Africa, Asia, and South Europe. Its distribution includes:

* Africa: Algeria; Egypt; Libya; Morocco; Tunisia; Ethiopia
* Asia: Cyprus; Egypt (Sinai); Israel; Jordan; Lebanon; Syria; Turkey
* South Europe: Greece; Italy (Sardinia, Sicily); France (Corsica); Portugal (Madeira); Gibraltar; Spain

Notes

Lamarckia aurea was first described in 1794.