SafePlants

No images found for this plant ID: 8857.

Ensure images are uploaded to the Media Library and tagged with "8857" in the "plant_image_tag" taxonomy.

Safe for Children?

✅ Safe: 0
❓ Neutral: 0
❌ Unsafe: 0

Safe for Dogs?

✅ Safe: 0
❓ Neutral: 0
❌ Unsafe: 0

Safe for Cats?

✅ Safe: 0
❓ Neutral: 0
❌ Unsafe: 0

Safe for Reptiles?

✅ Safe: 0
❓ Neutral: 0
❌ Unsafe: 0

Catapodium

Scientific Name: Catapodium

Family: Poaceae

Category: Monocot

Growth:

Duration:

Other Names:

       

Catapodium: A Detailed Overview

Catapodium is a genus of grasses belonging to the Poaceae family, primarily found in Eurasia and North Africa. This annual grass thrives in dry, barren environments, particularly on sandy banks, stabilized shingle, and around rocky outcrops, often preferring calcareous substrates. It can also be found in artificial habitats.

Scientific Name and Common Names

  • Scientific Name: Catapodium
  • Common Names: Fern-grass, Stiff Sand-grass

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

  • Family: Poaceae (Grass family)
  • Genus: Catapodium
  • Synonyms:
    • For Catapodium rigidum: Desmazeria rigida (L.) Tutin, Scleropoa rigida (L.) Griseb.

Distribution and Habitat

  • Native to Eurasia and North Africa.
  • Prefers dry, barren places like sandy banks, stabilized shingle, and rocky outcrops.
  • Commonly found on calcareous substrates.
  • Also found in artificial habitats.

Morphological Characteristics and Growth Habits

  • Annual grass.
  • Culms (stems) can be erect or geniculately ascending (bent at the nodes), or decumbent (lying along the ground with the tip ascending).
  • Culm length varies, ranging from 2-30 cm long in Catapodium rigidum and 3-20 cm long in Catapodium marinum.
  • Culms have 2-5 nodes.
  • Ligule is an eciliate (lacking cilia) membrane, 1-3 mm long, and obtuse (blunt).
  • Lateral branches can be lacking or sparse.

Quirky Facts

  • The common name "Fern-grass" originates from the vague resemblance of its inflorescence to a fern.
  • Branched forms of Catapodium marinum are not uncommon around the coast and have been misidentified in the past.

Resources and Further Information

  • The Plant List: A comprehensive resource listing plant names, including those for the genus Catapodium.
  • RHS (Royal Horticultural Society): Provides help and information on Catapodium rigidum.
  • Wikipedia Species Pages (German checklist) and GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility): Offer additional information on the genus Catapodium.
  • EOL (Encyclopedia of Life): Provides information about Catapodium marinum.
  • Australian Plant Census: Data links for Catapodium rigidum.