Alopecurus ponticus

HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped loosely. Rhizomes elongated. Butt sheaths light brown; pubescent; persistent and investing base of culm. Culms 20–70 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1–1.5 mm long; obtuse. Leaf-blades flat, or conduplicate; 10–15 cm long; 3–5 mm wide. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle spiciform; linear, or oblong; 1–3 cm long; 0.6–1 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 elliptic; laterally compressed; 5–5.5 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes connate along margins below; 0.9 of their length connate; similar; exceeding apex of florets; recurved at apex. Lower glume oblong; 5–5.5 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume primary vein ciliate. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume margins eciliate, or ciliate. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume oblong; 5–5.5 mm long; 1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume primary vein ciliate. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume margins eciliate, or ciliate. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 4.5–5 mm long; membranous; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma apex attenuate; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn dorsal; arising 0.5 way up back of lemma; curved; 2.5 mm long overall; not or scarcely exserted from spikelet. Palea 2–2.5 mm long; 0.5 length of lemma; 1 -veined.

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 USSR 1995.

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