GrassBase - The Online World Grass Flora

Descriptions

W.D. Clayton, M. Vorontsova, K.T. Harman & H. Williamson

© Copyright The Board of Trustees, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Alopecurus arundinaceus

HABIT Perennial. Rhizomes elongated. Culms erect; 23–105 cm long; 2 -noded. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface, or puberulous. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1.5–5 mm long; truncate, or obtuse. Leaf-blades 6–40 cm long; 3–10 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scaberulous; rough adaxially. Leaf-blade margins scabrous. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle; subtended by an inflated leaf-sheath.

Panicle spiciform; linear; 1.7–7 cm long; 0.6–1.4 cm wide. Primary panicle branches accrescent to a central axis; with evident branchlets on axis. Panicle axis with rounded ribs.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels oblong.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 3.5–7 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes connate along margins below; 0.25 of their length connate; similar; reaching apex of florets, or exceeding apex of florets; recurved at apex. Lower glume lanceolate; 3.5–7 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Lower glume primary vein ciliate. Lower glume surface pilose; hairy on veins. Lower glume hairs 1–2 mm long. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 3.5–7 mm long; 1–1.2 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Upper glume primary vein ciliate. Upper glume surface pilose; hairy on veins. Upper glume hairs 1–2 mm long. Upper glume apex acute; muticous.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 3.5–5.8 mm long; membranous; keeled; 5 -veined. Lemma margins connate below; with 0.33 of their length connate. Lemma apex truncate; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn dorsal; arising 0.4 way up back of lemma; straight, or curved; 5–7.5 mm long overall; not or scarcely exserted from spikelet.

FLOWER Lodicules absent. Anthers 3; 3–3.6 mm long. Stigmas terminally exserted; pubescent. Ovary glabrous.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Hilum punctiform. Disseminule comprising a spikelet.

DISTRIBUTION Europe: northern, central, southwestern, southeastern, and eastern. Asia-temperate: Siberia, Soviet far east, Soviet Middle Asia, Caucasus, western Asia, China, and Mongolia. Asia-tropical: India. North America: north-central USA.

NOTES Aveneae. Fl Turk 1993.

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