Vulpiella

HABIT Annual. Culms geniculately ascending, or decumbent; 10–40 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle contracted.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels linear, or oblong.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 5–18 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 8–40 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes definite.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 0.66 length of upper glume; scarious; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume surface without pits. Lower glume apex acute; mucronate. Upper glume lanceolate; 0.5–0.66 length of adjacent fertile lemma; scarious; 1-keeled; 2–3 -veined. Upper glume apex acute; mucronate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; coriaceous; keeled; wingless; 3 -veined. Lemma midvein scaberulous. Lemma surface unwrinkled; without grooves. Lemma apex dentate; 2 -fid; acuminate; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn from a sinus. Palea keels scabrous. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Anthers 3.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; linear; laterally compressed; trigonous. Embryo 0.25–0.33 length of caryopsis. Hilum elliptic.

DISTRIBUTION Europe, or Africa.

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