Avena murphyi

HABIT Annual. Culms erect; 50–100 cm long. Lateral branches lacking. Ligule an eciliate membrane; acute. Leaf-blades 15–30 cm long; 5–8 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; elliptic; 20 cm long.

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

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2–4 fertile florets; with a barren rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; laterally compressed; 30–40 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating above glumes but not between florets. Floret callus evident; bearded; obtuse; disarticulating transversely, or disarticulating obliquely; with circular scar, or elliptic scar.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma; gaping. Lower glume lanceolate; 30–40 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 9–11 -veined. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume elliptic; 30–40 mm long; 1.3 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 9–11 -veined. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; 20–30 mm long; coriaceous; much thinner above; without keel; 7 -veined. Lemma apex dentate; 2 -fid; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn dorsal; arising 0.25 way up back of lemma; geniculate; 40–60 mm long overall; with twisted column. Palea keels ciliolate. Palea surface scaberulous.

FLOWER Anthers 3. Ovary pubescent all over.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; sulcate on hilar side; hairy all over. Hilum linear.

DISTRIBUTION Europe: southwestern.

NOTES Aveneae. Baum 1993.

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