|
Note - this takes you off
of our website |
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 vaginatus
HABIT Perennial; culms solitary, or caespitose. Rhizomes elongated. Butt sheaths glabrous; persistent and investing base of culm; with compacted dead sheaths. Culms erect; 18–30 cm long. Leaves mostly basal. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.5–2 mm long; truncate. Leaf-blades filiform; flat, or convolute; 1–15 cm long; 1–2 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scaberulous; rough adaxially; glabrous. Leaf-blade margins scaberulous. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.
INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle; subtended by an inflated leaf-sheath.
Panicle spiciform, or glomerate; oblong, or ovate, or globose; 1.4–2.5 cm long; 0.7–1.3 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 oblong; laterally compressed; 3–4.5 mm long; falling entire.
GLUMES Glumes connate along margins below; 0.1 of their length connate; similar; reaching apex of florets. Lower glume elliptic; 3–4.5 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Lower glume primary vein ciliate. Lower glume surface pilose. Lower glume apex acute; mucronate, or awned; 1 -awned. Lower glume awn 0.6–1.8 mm long. Upper glume elliptic; 3–4.5 mm long; 1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Upper glume primary vein ciliate. Upper glume surface pilose. Upper glume apex acute; mucronate, or awned; 1 -awned. Upper glume awn 0.6–1.8 mm long.
FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 3–4.5 mm long; membranous; keeled; 5 -veined. Lemma margins connate below. Lemma apex truncate; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn dorsal; arising 0.33 way up back of lemma; geniculate; 5–10.5 mm long overall; clearly exserted from spikelet; with twisted column. Palea 1 -veined; 1-keeled.
FLOWER Lodicules absent. Anthers 3; 2.3–3.3 mm long. Stigmas terminally exserted; pubescent. Ovary glabrous.
FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Hilum punctiform. Disseminule comprising a spikelet.
DISTRIBUTION Europe: eastern. Asia-temperate: Caucasus and western Asia.
NOTES Aveneae. Fl Turk 1993.
Please cite this publication as detailed in How to Cite Version: 3rd February 2016.
