Plants annuals or short-lived perennials; tufted. Culms 2-30 cm, sometimes decumbent, glabrous. Sheaths open, usually shorter than the internodes, with tufts of 1.5-4 mm hairs on the margins of the collars; auricles absent; ligules membranous, ciliate; blades flat or folded, becoming involute on drying. Inflorescences terminal, dense panicles, 1-7 cm long, 0.5-2(3) cm wide, branches 1-2 per node; disarticulation initially above the glumes, glumes and pedicels sometimes falling together later. Spikelets with (4)5-7(10) florets. Glumes subequal, exceeding or exceeded by the distal floret, 3-7-veined, margins hyaline; lemmas 7-9-veined, margins and intercostal regions usually pubescent, varying to glabrous, margins hyaline, apices bifid or merely notched, sinuses sometimes mucronate, mucros to 1.5 mm; paleas spatulate, membranous, 2-veined, 2-keeled; anthers 3, 0.2-0.5 mm. Caryopses ovoid. x = 6. Name from the Greek schizo, split, referring to the bidentate lemma.

Schismus is a genus of five species that is native to Africa and Asia. Two species are established in the Flora region. In using the key and descriptions, the lowest floret in a spikelet should be examined. Succeeding florets tend to have shorter, less acute or acuminate lobes, and a shallower sinus.

1.   Schismus arabicus Nees
Arabian Schismus

Plants annual. Culms (2)6-16 cm. Ligules 0.5-1.5 mm, of hairs; blades 4-6 cm long, 0.5-2 mm wide, abaxial surfaces glabrous or sparsely pubescent, adaxial surfaces sparsely to densely pubescent. Panicles (1)2-3.5 cm. Spikelets 5-7 mm. Lower glumes 4.2-6.2 mm, equaling or exceeding the distal florets; upper glumes 4-6 mm; lemmas 1.8-2.6 mm, with dense, spreading pubescence between the veins, lobes longer than wide, acute to acuminate; paleas 1.5-2.2 mm, shorter than the lemmas; anthers 0.2-0.5 mm. Caryopses 0.5-0.8 mm. 2n = 12.

Schismus arabicus is native to southwestern Asia, but it is now established in the southwestern United States, growing in open and disturbed sites.

2.   Schismus barbatus (Loefl. ex L.) Thell.
Common Mediterranean Grass

Plants annual. Culms 6-27 cm. Ligules 0.3-

Plants annual. Culms 6-27 cm. Ligules 0.3-1.1 mm, of hairs; blades 3-15 cm long, 0.3-1.5 mm wide, abaxial surfaces glabrous or scabrous, adaxial surfaces scabrous, sparsely long-pubescent near the ligules. Panicles 1-6(7.5) cm. Spikelets 4.5-7 mm. Lower glumes 4-5.2 mm, exceeded by the distal florets; upper glumes 4-5.3 mm; lemmas 1.5-2(2.5) mm, with sparse, appressed pubescence between the veins, or glabrous and with spreading hairs on the margins, lobes as wide as or wider than long, acute to obtuse; paleas 1.7-2.2(2.6) mm, those of the lower florets in the spikelets as long as or longer than the lemmas; anthers 0.2-0.4 mm. Caryopses 0.6-0.8 mm. 2n = 12.

Schismus barbatus is native to Eurasia, but it is now established in the southwestern United States. It grows in sandy, disturbed sites along roadsides and fields and in dry riverbeds.