Agropyron velutinum

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms 15–40 cm long. Leaf-sheaths pubescent. Leaf-sheath auricles absent. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1 mm long. Leaf-blades convolute; 5–15 cm long; 2–3 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface pubescent; densely hairy. Leaf-blade apex abruptly acute.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes. Peduncle pubescent above.

Racemes 1; single; oblong; bilateral; 2.5–3 cm long; 6–12 mm wide. Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis; contiguous. Rhachis internodes oblong.

Spikelets ascending; solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 6–10 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 10 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet; similar to fertile lemma in texture. Lower glume ovate; 5–6 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; coriaceous; 1-keeled; keeled all along; 7 -veined. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume ovate; 5–6 mm long; 1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; coriaceous; 1-keeled; 9 -veined. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 5–7 mm long; coriaceous; keeled; keeled above; 5 -veined. Lemma apex acute; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn 1–2 mm long overall. Palea keels scabrous. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Ovary with a fleshy appendage below style insertion; pubescent on apex.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; hairy at apex; apex fleshy. Hilum linear. Disseminule comprising a floret.

DISTRIBUTION Australasia: Australia.

NOTES Triticeae. WDC 1993.

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