Aegilops

HABIT Annual. Culms erect (14), or geniculately ascending (19), or decumbent (4); robust (1/1); 5–36.28–110 cm long. Leaf-sheath auricles falcate. Ligule an eciliate membrane (22), or absent (1).

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes; not deciduous as a whole (10), or deciduous as a whole (16); exserted (22), or embraced at base by subtending leaf (1).

Racemes single; linear (11), or moniliform (4), or lanceolate (7), or ovate (2), or obovate (3); unilateral (1), or bilateral; bearing few fertile spikelets (11), or many spikelets (12); bearing 2–7–20 fertile spikelets on each. Rhachis tough (15), or fragile at the nodes (11); flattened (1/7), or semiterete (6/7); terminating in a spikelet (22), or sterile spikelet (1). Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis. Rhachis internodes indefinite (8), or linear (3), or oblong (10), or cuneate (2); falling with spikelet alongside (5/10), or falling with spikelet above (5/10).

Spikelets appressed (6/8), or ascending (2/8); solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

STERILE SPIKELETS Basal sterile spikelets absent (7), or rudimentary (22).

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets (1), or 2–3 fertile florets (9), or 4 fertile florets (12), or 5 fertile florets (6), or 6–8 fertile florets (2); with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets elliptic (5), or oblong (11), or ovate (7), or obovate (1), or cuneate (1); laterally compressed; 5–10.28–15 mm long; falling entire; deciduous with accessory branch structures. Rhachilla internodes definite.

GLUMES Glumes distichous (22), or collateral (1); shorter than spikelet. Lower glume elliptic (2), or oblong (18), or ovate (3), or obovate (3); not gibbous (20), or gibbous (3); 1 length of upper glume; coriaceous; without keels; 4 -veined (1), or 5 -veined (2), or 6 -veined (4), or 7 -veined (21), or 8–9 -veined (17), or 10 -veined (1). Lower glume lateral veins distinct (8), or thickened (4), or unequally thickened (11); without ribs (2), or ribbed (21). Lower glume surface smooth (17), or asperulous (1), or scabrous (7); without pits; glabrous (16), or pubescent (7), or pilose (3). Lower glume apex entire (6), or with a unilateral tooth (4), or dentate (15), or lobed (2); 1 -fid (1/14), or 2 -fid (11/14), or 3 -fid (5/14), or 4 -fid (1/14); emarginate (1/10), or truncate (10/10); muticous (8), or mucronate (1), or awned (14), or awned only on distal spikelets (5). Upper glume elliptic (2), or oblong (18), or ovate (3), or obovate (3); not gibbous (20), or gibbous (3); 0.66–0.883–1.2 length of adjacent fertile lemma; coriaceous; without keels; 4–5 -veined (1), or 6 -veined (4), or 7 -veined (21), or 8 -veined (17), or 9 -veined (18), or 10 -veined (1). Upper glume lateral veins without ribs (2), or ribbed (21); parallel at apex (22), or divergent at apex (1). Upper glume surface smooth (17), or asperulous (1), or scabrous (7); glabrous (16), or pubescent (7), or pilose (3). Upper glume apex entire (6), or with a unilateral tooth (4), or dentate (15), or lobed (2); 1 -fid (1/15), or 2 -fid (12/15), or 3 -fid (6/15), or 4 -fid (1/15); emarginate (1/11), or truncate (11/11); muticous (8), or awned (15), or awned only on distal spikelets (5); 1 -awned (7/17), or 2 -awned (6/17), or 3 -awned (9/17), or 4–5 -awned (2/17), or 6–8 -awned (1/17).

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic (6), or oblong (16), or ovate (2); coriaceous; without keel (17), or keeled (6); wingless; 5 -veined. Lemma surface unwrinkled; without grooves; glabrous (22), or pubescent (1), or pilose (1). Lemma margins eciliate (21), or ciliolate (2). Lemma apex entire (8), or erose (1), or dentate (16); 1 -fid (3/16), or 2 -fid (13/16), or 3 -fid (6/16), or 4 -fid (1/16); emarginate (2/8), or truncate (7/8), or obtuse (1/8); muticous (5), or awned (14), or awned only on distal spikelets (8); 1 -awned (14/20), or 2 -awned (8/20), or 3 -awned (6/20), or 4 -awned (1/20). Principal lemma awn apical (18/20), or from a sinus (2/20). Lateral lemma awns shorter than principal (1/1). Palea 2 -veined. Palea keels smooth (1), or scaberulous (20), or scabrous (2); eciliate (22), or ciliolate (1). Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; glabrous (17), or ciliate (6). Anthers 3 (2/2). Ovary unappendaged (16), or with a fleshy appendage below style insertion (7); pubescent on apex.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; ellipsoid (2/4), or oblong (1/4), or ovoid (1/4). Embryo 0.5–0.58–0.66 length of caryopsis. Hilum linear (1/1); 1 length of caryopsis.

DISTRIBUTION Europe (12), or Africa (10), or Temperate Asia, or Tropical Asia (3), or North America (2).

Please cite this publication as detailed in How to Cite Version: 3rd February 2016.