Alopecurus dasyanthus

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Butt sheaths scarious; persistent and investing base of culm; with compacted dead sheaths. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending; 15–30 cm long. Leaf-sheaths smooth; glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1 mm long. Leaf-blades filiform; conduplicate, or involute; 5–10 cm long; 2–3 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle spiciform, or capitate; elliptic, or globose; 1–1.7 cm long; 1–1.2 cm wide. 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; 3–4.5 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes connate along margins below; similar; reaching apex of florets; recurved at apex. Lower glume lanceolate; 3–4.5 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Lower glume primary vein ciliate. Lower glume margins ciliate. Lower glume apex acuminate; awned; 1 -awned. Lower glume awn 1–1.5 mm long. Upper glume lanceolate; 3–4.5 mm long; 1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Upper glume primary vein ciliate. Upper glume margins ciliate. Upper glume apex acuminate; awned; 1 -awned. Upper glume awn 1–1.5 mm long.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 3–4.5 mm long; membranous; keeled; 5 -veined. Lemma surface pubescent. Lemma apex obtuse; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn dorsal; arising 0.25 way up back of lemma; geniculate; 9 mm long overall; clearly exserted from spikelet; with twisted column. Palea absent or minute.

FLOWER Lodicules absent. Anthers 3. Stigmas protogynous; terminally exserted; pubescent. Ovary glabrous.

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

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: Caucasus and western Asia.

NOTES Aveneae. Fl Iran 1995.

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