Beckmannia eruciformis

HABIT Perennial. Rhizomes elongated. Culms erect; 50–150 cm long; swollen at the base; forming an ovoid corm. Leaf-sheaths ribbed. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 5–8 mm long; acute. Leaf-blades 10–30 cm long; 4–10 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scabrous; rough adaxially.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 4–15; borne along a central axis; ascending, or erect; unilateral; 1–3 cm long. Central inflorescence axis 18–25 cm long. Rhachis angular. Spikelet packing crowded; regular; 2 -rowed.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels oblong; 0.2 mm long; tip cupuliform.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets obovate, or orbicular; laterally compressed; 2.5–3.7 mm long; falling entire. Rhachilla internodes suppressed between florets. Floret callus pubescent.

GLUMES Glumes similar; reaching apex of florets, or shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume obovate; gibbous; 2–3.7 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; chartaceous; much thinner on margins; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Lower glume primary vein scaberulous. Lower glume margins ciliolate. Lower glume apex obtuse. Upper glume obovate; gibbous; 2–3.7 mm long; 0.8–1.2 length of adjacent fertile lemma; chartaceous; with hyaline margins; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Upper glume primary vein scaberulous. Upper glume margins ciliolate. Upper glume apex obtuse.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic; 2.5–3 mm long; cartilaginous; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma midvein ciliolate. Lemma apex apiculate. Palea oblong; 2 -veined.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 1.8 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Hilum punctiform.

DISTRIBUTION Europe: central, southeastern, and eastern. Asia-temperate: Siberia, Soviet Middle Asia, Caucasus, and western Asia.

NOTES Aveneae. Fl Eur.

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