Apera triaristata

HABIT Annual; culms solitary, or caespitose. Culms erect; 15–23 cm long; 3 -noded. Culm-internodes smooth; distally glabrous. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 4–5 mm long; lacerate. Leaf-blades 4.5–8 cm long; 1.5–2.5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scaberulous; rough on both sides. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; linear, or lanceolate; dense; 2–10 cm long; 0.8–2.5 cm wide. Primary panicle branches ascending; 1–2.5 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels 0.3–0.8 mm long; scaberulous.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; with a barren rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; laterally compressed; 2.6–2.9 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus glabrous.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; shiny. Lower glume lanceolate; 1.9–2.1 mm long; 0.75 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acuminate; awned; 1 -awned. Lower glume awn terminal; 2.2–2.9 mm long. Upper glume lanceolate; 2.4–2.6 mm long; 1.1–1.2 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex acuminate; awned; 1 -awned. Upper glume awn terminal; 1.5–1.7 mm long.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; 2–2.4 mm long; membranous; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma surface granulose; rough above. Lemma apex acute; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn subapical; straight, or curved; 6.5–10 mm long overall. Palea 2 mm long; 2 -veined.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 1.5–1.7 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: western Asia.

NOTES Aveneae. Fl Turk 1997.

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