Stipa capensis Thunb.
A tufted annual, with jointed, erect or ascending stems up to 70 cm tall. Stem leaves very narrow, inrolled, the uppermost with a broadened sheath which at first encloses the lower part of the inflorescence. The basal leaves form a rosette. Ligule flat-topped, 0.5 mm long, fringed with hairs. Inflorescence a dense, narrow panicle up to 15 cm long, spirally twisted at maturity. Spikelets with one floret. Glumes long-pointed, narrow-lanceolate 18 to 25 mm long. Lemma hairy, 4 to 6 mm long, with a long two-jointed awn 7 to 14 cm long.
Local: Not very common in Gibraltar. Found on Windmill Hill Flats, around Jew’s Gate and Martin's Path, and on the Lower Slopes.
Global: Found throughout the Mediterranean region, south Africa, south-west Asia.
Flowers from (March) April to May (June).
Grows on garigue, dry ground, stony places.