Lygeum
{{short description|Species of plant}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2017}}
{{Speciesbox
|image = Lygeum spartum-1.jpg
|image_caption = Lygeum spartum
|display_parents = 5
|grandparent_authority = J.Presl
|genus = Lygeum
|parent_authority = Loefl. ex L.
|species = spartum
|synonyms_ref = [http://apps.kew.org/wcsp/namedetail.do?name_id=423191 Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families]
|synonyms = *Linosparton Adans.
- Sparthum Plin. ex P. Beauv. as synonym[https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/394257#page/224/mode/1up Palisot de Beauvois, Ambroise Marie François Joseph. 1812. Essai d'une Nouvelle Agrostographie 140]
- Spartum Plin. ex P. Beauv., alternate spelling[http://www.tropicos.org/Name/40036552 Tropicos, Spartum P. Beauv.]
- Lygeum tenax Salisb.
- Lygeum spathaceum Lam.
- Lygeum apiculatum Gand.
- Lygeum insulare Gand.
- Lygeum loscosii Gand.
- Lygeum murcicum Gand.
- Lygeum spartum f. longispathum Trab.
}}
File:Lygeum spartum MHNT.BOT.2013.22.43.jpg]]
Lygeum is a genus of Mediterranean plants in the grass family.Linnaeus, Carl von. 1754. Genera Plantarum, ed. 5 27, (522).Abdeddaim-Boughanmi, K. and M. Kaid-Harche. (2009). [http://docsdrive.com/pdfs/sciencepublications/ajabssp/2009/201-205.pdf Structure, ultrastructure of the anther, pollen microsporogenesis and morphology of pollen grains of two populations of Lygeum spartum L. in Algeria.] American Journal of Agricultural and Biological Sciences 4(3), 201-05. It is placed in its own tribe Lygeeae, which is sister to Nardeae.{{cite journal|last1=Soreng|first1=Robert J.|last2=Peterson|first2=Paul M.|last3=Romaschenko|first3=Konstantin|last4=Davidse|first4=Gerrit|last5=Teisher|first5=Jordan K.|last6=Clark|first6=Lynn G.|last7=Barberá|first7=Patricia|last8=Gillespie|first8=Lynn J.|last9=Zuloaga|first9=Fernando O.|title=A worldwide phylogenetic classification of the Poaceae (Gramineae) II: An update and a comparison of two 2015 classifications|journal=Journal of Systematics and Evolution|volume=55|issue=4|year=2017|pages=259–290|issn=1674-4918|doi=10.1111/jse.12262|doi-access=free|hdl=10261/240149|hdl-access=free}} {{open access}}
The only known species is Lygeum spartum, commonly called esparto grass, cord grass[http://luirig.altervista.org/flora/taxa/floraspecie.php?genere=Lygeum Altervista Flora Italiana, genere Lygeum, Sparto steppico, Esparto Grass] or albardine, which is distributed in arid areas around the Mediterranean Sea. It is similar to Stipa tenacissimaGarcı́a-Fuentes, A., et al. (2001). [http://hera.ugr.es/doi/15017527.pdf Review of communities of Lygeum spartum L. in the south-eastern Iberian Peninsula (western Mediterranean).] Journal of Arid Environments 48(3), 323-39. and both species are used to produce a fiber product known as esparto or esparto grass.Watson, L. and M. J. Dallwitz. 1992 onwards. [http://delta-intkey.com/grass/www/lygeum.htm Lygeum.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071119025652/http://delta-intkey.com/grass/www/lygeum.htm |date=19 November 2007 }} The Grass Genera of the World. DELTA – DEscription Language for TAxonomy. Version: 18 December 2012.
Description
Lygeum spartum is a rhizomatous hermaphroditic, perennial grass growing up to {{convert|75|cm|in}} tall.Clayton, W. D., et al. (2006 onwards). [http://www.kew.org/data/grasses-db/www/gen00365.htm Lygeum.] GrassBase - The Online World Grass Flora. The rhizome and the base of the stem are scaly.[http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=5&taxon_id=220007935 Lygeum spartum.] Flora of Pakistan. The leaves are threadlike but stiff and tough, measuring up to {{convert|50|cm|in}} long. The inflorescence is made up of a few long-haired spikelets each up to {{convert|4.5|cm|in|frac=12}} long. They are wrapped in a lance-shaped bract called a spatheole. This sheath is {{convert|3|to|9|cm|in|frac=12}} long and can have a sharp point.
Distribution
Lygeum spartinum is native to southern Europe and North Africa, where its distribution includes Crete, Italy, Spain, Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, and Tunisia.{{GRIN | Lygeum spartum | 22991 | accessdate = 2017-12-17}}[https://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=506619 Lygeum spartum.] Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS). It may have been introduced to Kashmir.{{cite web | url = http://eol.org/pages/1115570/overview | title = Lygeum spartum | accessdate = 2016-11-26 | publisher = Encyclopedia of Life}}
Habitat
Rocky sea shores, or on dry sandy or clay and often calcareous soil.{{cite web | url = http://www.pfaf.org/User/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Lygeum+spartum | title = Lygeum spartum - Loefl. ex L. | accessdate = 2016-11-26 | publisher = Plants For A Future}}
Uses
Lygeum spartum fibres have high tensile strength and flexibility, and is used for making ropes, sandals, baskets, mats and other durable articles. They have also used in the manufacture of high quality paper.{{cite web | url = https://www.britannica.com/plant/esparto#ref171706 | title = Esparto | accessdate = 2016-11-26 | publisher = Encyclopædia Britannica}} It can also be used locally as a fodder for livestock and to stabilise sand dunes and rehabilitate salt soils, due to its tolerance of saline conditions.{{cite journal | author = Bouzid Nedjimi | year = 2009 | title = Salt tolerance strategies of Lygeum spartum L.: A new fodder crop for Algerian saline steppes | journal = Flora - Morphology, Distribution, Functional Ecology of Plants | volume = 204 | issue =10 | pages = 747–754| doi = 10.1016/j.flora.2008.11.004 | bibcode = 2009FMDFE.204..747N }}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Taxonbar|from1=Q3310865|from2=Q3890225|from3=Q5055327}}
Category:Monotypic Poaceae genera