Apera

HABIT Annual. Culms erect (4), or geniculately ascending (4), or decumbent (1); slender (1/1); 10–36.5–100 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open (2), or contracted (3). Primary panicle branches not whorled (4), or whorled at most nodes (1).

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; with a barren rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate (3), or oblong (2); laterally compressed; 2–2.57–3 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus glabrous (3), or pubescent (2).

GLUMES Glumes persistent; exceeding apex of florets. Lower glume linear (1), or lanceolate (4); 0.7–0.805–1 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume surface without pits. Lower glume apex acute (2), or acuminate (3); muticous (2), or awned (3). Upper glume lanceolate (4), or ovate (1); 1–1.18–1.6 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex acute (2), or acuminate (3); muticous (2), or awned (3); 1 -awned (3/3).

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate (4), or ovate (1); membranous; without keel; wingless; 5 -veined. Lemma surface granulose (1), or scaberulous (3), or scabrous (1); unwrinkled; without grooves. Lemma apex acute; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn subapical; straight (3), or curved (1), or flexuous (2). Palea 0.75–0.8833–1 length of lemma; 2 -veined.

FLOWER Anthers 3.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; ellipsoid (2/2).

DISTRIBUTION Europe (2), or Africa (2), or Temperate Asia, or Australasia (1), or North America (2), or South America (1).

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