Ammophila arenaria

 

Ammophila arenaria

 

Subsp. arundinacea: Sahilotu
 
 
Perennial. Stems 60-120 cm, erect, stout, glabrous, smooth. Leaf sheaths ribbed; ligule 10-30 mm, ± lacerate; blades narrowly linear, to 60 cm, sharp-pointed, tightly inrolled, to 6 mm broad when opened out, closely-ribbed, ribs minutely hairy, smooth and shiny beneath. Panicle 12-20 x 1.5-2 cm, oblong to cylindrical. Spikelets 10-14 mm, pale to straw yellow. Glumes narrowly lanceolate, acute to acuminate, keeled, rather firm; lower glume 10.5-12 mm, upper 11-13 mm. Lemma 10.5-12 mm, lanceolate, surrounded at base by fine white hairs 4-6 mm. Caryopsis enclosed by lemma and palea. Fl. 6-8. Sand dunes, s.l. 
N.W. Africa, S. Europe, Romania. Medit. element. Subsp. arenaria occurs in N. & W. Europe southwards to N.W. Spain.