Avena brevis

HABIT Annual. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending; 40–70 cm long; 3–5 -noded. Lateral branches lacking. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 2–3 mm long; truncate, or obtuse. Leaf-blades 10–20 cm long; 3–5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scaberulous. Leaf-blade apex acute.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle contracted; elliptic; nodding; 10–20 cm long; 2–5 cm wide. Panicle branches capillary; scaberulous.

Spikelets pendulous; solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels filiform.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1–3 fertile florets; with a barren rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; laterally compressed; 11–15 mm long; persistent on plant. Rhachilla internodes glabrous.

GLUMES Glumes similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma; gaping. Lower glume lanceolate; 11–15 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 7–9 -veined. Lower glume apex obtuse, or acute. Upper glume elliptic; 11–15 mm long; 1.3–1.6 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 7–9 -veined. Upper glume apex obtuse, or acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; 8–9 mm long; coriaceous; much thinner above; without keel; 7 -veined. Lemma surface scaberulous; rough above. Lemma apex dentate; 2 -fid; awned; 3 -awned. Principal lemma awn subapical, or dorsal; arising 0.75–0.9 way up back of lemma; geniculate; 15–28 mm long overall; with twisted column. Column of lemma awn 4–10 mm long. Lateral lemma awns arising on apex of lobes; 1–3 mm long; shorter than principal. Palea 7–8 mm long. Palea keels ciliolate; adorned above. Rhachilla extension 2.5 mm long.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 2 mm long. Ovary pubescent on apex.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; oblong; sulcate on hilar side; 6 mm long; hairy at apex. Hilum linear.

DISTRIBUTION Europe: northern, central, and southwestern. Africa: Macaronesia.

NOTES Aveneae. FTA 1993.

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