Beckmannia syzigachne

HABIT Annual; caespitose. Culms erect; 20–90 cm long; 1.8–2.4 mm diam.; 2–4 -noded. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 3–6 mm long. Leaf-blades 7–20 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; 1.7–2.5 cm long; simple, or secondarily branched; secondary branches racemulose. Central inflorescence axis 15–35 cm long. Rhachis angular. Spikelet packing crowded.

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

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension, or with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets orbicular; laterally compressed; 3–3.5 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes similar; reaching apex of florets; firmer than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; gibbous; 3–3.5 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; herbaceous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; gibbous; 3–3.5 mm long; herbaceous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; 3–3.5 mm long; cartilaginous; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma apex apiculate. Palea oblong; 0.66 length of lemma; 2 -veined. Apical sterile florets distinct from fertile; 0–1 in number; male; orbicular.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 0.5–0.8 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Hilum punctiform.

DISTRIBUTION Europe: eastern. Asia-temperate: Siberia, Soviet far east, Soviet Middle Asia, China, Mongolia, and eastern Asia. North America: Subarctic, western Canada, eastern Canada, northwest USA, north-central USA, southwest USA, and south-central USA.

NOTES Aveneae. Koyama.

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