aegilops
noun
Meaning
A genus of wild grasses native to the Mediterranean and Western Asia, closely related to wheat and often found as weeds in agricultural fields.
Examples
- Botanists study the Aegilops genus to understand the genetic origins of modern domesticated wheat.
- Some species of Aegilops are considered invasive weeds that compete with cereal crops for nutrients.
Synonyms: grass, wild wheat, cereal grass, poaceae