Aira
Early Haferschmiele ( Aira praecox )
Haferschmielen ( Aira ) are a genus of flowering plants in the family of grasses ( Poaceae ).
Description
In Aira species is comparatively small stature, annuals grasses, which are usually 5-20 cm tall. Its flowers are small (1.5 to 3 mm ), usually arranged zweiblütigen spikelets. Each spikelet has one to two equally long awns, which arise on the backs of the lemmas. The spikelets are in turn arranged in panicles.
Distribution and species ( selection)
Haferschmielen are circumpolar distribution. The genus comprises about eight species. In Germany originally Two types before:
- Clove Haferschmiele ( Aira caryophyllea L.); Distribution: From the Azores and Canary Islands to Europe and northwest Africa to Iran and the Caucasus, in Ethiopia, in tropical Africa to South Africa; naturalized in North and South America, Australia and New Zealand.
- Early Haferschmiele ( Aira praecox L.); Distribution: Europe and the Canary Islands, unstable in Turkey, naturalized in North America.
The other species of the genus are all also in Europe:
- Aira cupaniana cast. , Occurs in the western and central Mediterranean.
- Hair Haferschmiele ( Aira elegantissima Schur ): as an ornamental plant and wild in Central Europe and North America, original home: Morocco, Algeria, southern Europe, southern Central Europe, Western Asia.
- Aira provincialis Jord. ; Home: Southeast France and Corsica.
- Aira scoparia Adamović, Origin: Macedonia.
- Aira tenorei cast. ; Home: Northwest Africa, Libya, South Europe.
- Aira uniaristata Lag & Rodr. , Comes in the Balearic Islands, in Spain, Portugal and Morocco.