Avena chinensis

HABIT Annual. Culms erect; 45–90 cm long. Culm-nodes glabrous. Leaves cauline. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades 10–20 cm long; 3–7 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; pyramidal; 15–25 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels filiform.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 3–6 fertile florets; with a barren rhachilla extension. Spikelets cuneate; laterally compressed; 25–35 mm long; persistent on plant. Rhachilla internodes glabrous. Floret callus glabrous.

GLUMES Glumes similar; shorter than spikelet; similar to fertile lemma in texture. Lower glume lanceolate; 15–25 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 7–9 -veined. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; 15–25 mm long; 0.9–1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 7–9 -veined. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile florets all alike, or with the lowest dissimilar. Lowest fertile lemma muticous, or awned (15–20mm). Fertile lemma lanceolate; 18–25 mm long; membranous; without keel; 7–9 -veined. Lemma lateral veins distinct. Lemma surface glabrous. Lemma apex dentate; 2–4 -fid; muticous.

FLOWER Anthers 3. Ovary pubescent all over.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; 8 mm long; hairy all over. Hilum linear. Disseminule comprising a caryopsis.

DISTRIBUTION Europe: central, southwestern, and eastern. Asia-temperate: Siberia, Soviet far east, Soviet Middle Asia, Caucasus, China, and Mongolia.

NOTES Aveneae. Fl Eur 1997.

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