Ammocalamagrostis baltica

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Rhizomes elongated. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending; robust; 70–150 cm long. Leaf-sheaths without keel; smooth. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 10–25 mm long; acute. Leaf-blades flat, or involute; 50–100 cm long; 3–7 mm wide; stiff. Leaf-blade surface ribbed (above); scaberulous (above); glabrous, or puberulous (above). Leaf-blade apex attenuate; pungent.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle. Peduncle distinct; smooth, or scaberulous above.

Panicle spiciform; lanceolate; tapering above; 13–25 cm long; 1.7–3 cm wide. Primary panicle branches 3–7 cm long. Panicle branches scabrous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels 1–4 mm long; scabrous.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; laterally compressed; 9–12 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus bearded. Floret callus hairs 5–7 length of lemma.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets. Lower glume lanceolate; 9–12 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; chartaceous; 1-keeled; 1–3 -veined. Lower glume primary vein scabrous. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume surface asperulous. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 9–12 mm long; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Upper glume primary vein scabrous. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; 7–9 mm long; cartilaginous; keeled; 3–7 -veined. Lemma surface asperulous. Lemma apex dentate; 2 -fid; awned. Principal lemma awn subapical; straight; 1–2 mm long overall. Palea 2–4 -veined. Palea keels scaberulous.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 4–4.5 mm long; indehiscent.

DISTRIBUTION Europe: northern, central, and southwestern.

NOTES Aveneae. Hubbard Brit Gr.

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