Shaggy cornucopia,
Hebrew: כוסנית ממולענת, Arabic:
| Scientific name: | Cornucopiae alopecuroides L. | |
| Synonym name: | Alopecurus involucratus Post, Cornucopiae involucratum (Post) Mez | |
| Common name: | Shaggy cornucopia | |
| Hebrew name: | כוסנית ממולענת | |
| Family: | Graminea (Poaceae), Grass Family, משפחת הדגניים |
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| Life form: | Annual | |
| Spinescence: | Non | |
| Succulence: | Non | |
| Stems: | Culms 10–40 cm high; herbaceous. | |
| Leaves: | not basally aggregated; non-auriculate; the upper sheaths inflated; leaf blades linear (acuminate); narrow; flat | |
| Inflorescence: | Inflorescence a panicle; terminal and axillary; deciduous as a whole; subtended by an inflated leaf-sheath; exserted, or embraced at base by subtending leaf. Peduncle expanded into a conical flask at apex; disarticulating. Panicle capitate. Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. | |
| Flowers: | Glumes: Glumes connate along margins below; reaching apex of florets, or exceeding apex of florets. Lower glume elliptic, or oblong; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Lower glume surface without pits; glabrous, or pubescent. Lower glume apex truncate, or acute; muticous, or mucronate. Upper glume elliptic, or oblong; 1–1.075–1.2 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Upper glume primary vein ciliate. Upper glume surface glabrous, or pubescent. Upper glume apex truncate, or acute; muticous, or mucronate.
Florets: fertile lemma ovate; membranous; keeled; wingless; 5 -veined. Lemma surface unwrinkled; without grooves. Lemma margins connate below. Lemma apex truncate; muticous, or awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn dorsal; straight, or geniculate. Palea absent or minute. Flower, green: Lodicules absent. Anthers 3. Ovary glabrous. | |
| Fruits / pods: | Caryopsis with adherent pericarp | |
| Flowering Period: | March, April, May, June | |
| Habitat: | Humid habitats | |
| Distribution: | Mediterranean Woodlands and Shrublands | |
| Chorotype: | Mediterranean | |
| Summer shedding: | Ephemeral |
Derivation of the botanical name: Cornucopia (Horn of Plenty) in Greek Myth. The Cornucopia, or Horn of Plenty, is actually the horn of the goat Amalthea, the nurse of baby Zeus in Greek mythology. Zeus, ruler of the Greek pantheon, had a rough upbringing. So named from the manner in which the flowers grow within their involucre, like a Cornupia or horn of plenty. alopecuroides, alopecuros, αλωπεκουροϛ (αλωπεξ ουρα) Theophrastus: "fox tail, fox brush"; -oides, -οειδεϛ, "like, resemble"; like the genus Alopecurus (foxtail).
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