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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 myosuroides
HABIT Annual; caespitose. Culms geniculately ascending, or decumbent; 20–80 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 2–5 mm long. Leaf-blades 3–16 cm long; 2–8 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scaberulous; rough adaxially, or on both sides.
INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.
Panicle spiciform; linear; tapering above; 2–12 cm long; 0.3–0.6 cm wide. Primary panicle branches accrescent to a central axis; with lateral stumps 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; 4.5–7 mm long; falling entire.
GLUMES Glumes connate along margins below; similar; reaching apex of florets. Lower glume lanceolate, or oblong; 4.5–7 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; winged on keel; winged narrowly; winged above; 3 -veined. Lower glume primary vein ciliolate. Lower glume surface pubescent; hairy below. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate, or oblong; 4.5–7 mm long; 1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; winged on keel; winged above; 3 -veined. Upper glume primary vein ciliolate. Upper glume surface pubescent; hairy below. Upper glume apex acute.
FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 4.5–7 mm long; membranous; keeled; 4 -veined. Lemma margins connate below. Lemma apex obtuse; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn dorsal; arising 0.1–0.2 way up back of lemma; geniculate; 8–14 mm long overall; clearly exserted from spikelet; with twisted column. Palea absent or minute.
FLOWER Lodicules absent. Anthers 3; 3–4 mm long. Stigmas protogynous; terminally exserted; pubescent. Ovary glabrous.
FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Hilum punctiform. Disseminule comprising a spikelet.
DISTRIBUTION Europe: northern, central, southwestern, southeastern, and eastern. Africa: north. Asia-temperate: Soviet Middle Asia, Caucasus, western Asia, Arabia, and eastern Asia. Asia-tropical: India. Australasia: Australia. North America: northwest USA, north-central USA, northeast USA, and south-central USA. South America: southern South America.
NOTES Aveneae. CEH.
ADDITIONAL CHARACTERS Glumes connate for 0.33–0.5 their length.
Please cite this publication as detailed in How to Cite Version: 3rd February 2016.
