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 himalaicus

HABIT Perennial. Rhizomes short. Culms erect; 30–80 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 2–3 mm long; obtuse. Leaf-blades 5–12 cm long; 3–6 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

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

Panicle spiciform; elliptic, or ovate; 1.5–3.2 cm long; 0.8–1.2 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 elliptic; laterally compressed; 3–5 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes connate along margins below; 0.1 of their length connate; similar; exceeding apex of florets; parallel to lemmas, or recurved at apex. Lower glume lanceolate; 3–5 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Lower glume primary vein ciliate. Lower glume surface villous. Lower glume hairs 2–3 mm long. Lower glume apex acute to setaceously attenuate. Upper glume lanceolate; 3–5 mm long; 1.1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Upper glume primary vein ciliate. Upper glume surface villous. Upper glume hairs 2–3 mm long. Upper glume apex acute to setaceously attenuate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 2.7–4.5 mm long; membranous; keeled; 5 -veined. Lemma margins connate below; with 0.33–0.5 of their length connate; eciliate, or ciliate; hairy above. Lemma apex acute; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn dorsal; arising 0.1 way up back of lemma; geniculate; 9.5 mm long overall; clearly exserted from spikelet; with twisted column. Column of lemma awn 4.5 mm long.

FLOWER Lodicules absent. Anthers 3; 2–3 mm long. Stigmas terminally exserted; pubescent. Ovary glabrous.

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

DISTRIBUTION Europe: southeastern. Asia-temperate: Soviet Middle Asia, western Asia, and China. Asia-tropical: India.

NOTES Aveneae. Fl Pak 1993.

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