Crabgrass - Crabgrass

Japanese: メヒシバ - めひしば

An annual grass of the Gramineae family. The culm creeps along the ground at the base, branches, and is 10-50 cm tall. From July to November, a palmate raceme is produced at the culm's apex, with 3-8 florets. The central axis of the floret is 5-15 cm long, about 1 mm wide, and has a rough edge. The spikelet has two florets, and the first glume is tiny. It commonly grows in fields, and is distributed throughout Japan and tropical to warm temperate regions of the world. Its name comes from the fact that it corresponds to the Japanese goosegrass (Euonymus uniflora), and is thin and soft all over.

[Xu Jianchang]

Crabgrass
From July to November, it produces a palmate raceme at the top of the stem, with 3 to 8 small flower spikes. It is commonly seen on roadsides and in fields throughout Japan. ©Shogakukan Photo by Masatoshi Hirose ">

Crabgrass

Crabgrass (specimen drawing)
©Kanzo Otawa ">

Crabgrass (specimen drawing)

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

Japanese:

イネ科の一年草。稈(かん)は基部が地面をはい、枝分れし、高さ10～50センチメートル。7～11月、稈頂に掌状の総状花序をつくり、小花穂を3～8本つける。小花穂の中軸は長さ5～15センチメートル、幅約1ミリメートルで縁(へり)はざらつく。小穂は小花が2個あり、第1包穎(ほうえい)は微小。畑に普通に生え、日本、および世界の熱帯から暖帯に分布する。名は、オヒシバ（雄日芝）に対応して、全体が細く柔らかいことによる。

［許　建　昌］

メヒシバ
7～11月、稈頂に掌状の総状花序をつくり、小花穂を3～8本つける。日本各地の道端や畑に普通にみられる©Shogakukan　撮影／広瀬雅敏">

メヒシバ

メヒシバ〔標本画〕

出典　小学館　日本大百科全書(ニッポニカ)日本大百科全書(ニッポニカ)について　情報 | 凡例

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