Alopecurus setarioides

HABIT Annual; culms solitary, or caespitose. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending; 12–35 cm long; 2–3 -noded. Lateral branches lacking, or sparse. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1–2.5 mm long; erose; obtuse, or acute. Leaf-blades 1.2–10 cm long; 0.8–3.5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scaberulous; rough adaxially. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

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

Panicle spiciform; oblong, or ovate; 0.8–3.2 cm long; 0.6–1.1 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; 3.2–4.5 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes connate along margins below; 0.33 of their length connate; similar; exceeding apex of florets. Lower glume lanceolate; 3.2–4.5 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Lower glume primary vein ciliate. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 3.2–4.5 mm long; 1.1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Upper glume primary vein ciliate. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 3–3.6 mm long; membranous; keeled; 5 -veined. Lemma margins connate below; with 0.33 of their length connate. Lemma apex acute; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn dorsal; arising 0.25 way up back of lemma; geniculate; 6.5–10.5 mm long overall; with twisted column. Palea absent or minute.

FLOWER Lodicules absent. Anthers 3; 1.5–2 mm long. Stigmas terminally exserted; pubescent. Ovary glabrous.

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

DISTRIBUTION Europe: southeastern. Asia-temperate: western Asia.

NOTES Aveneae. Fl Turk 1993.

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