Brachypodium kotschyi

HABIT Perennial. Stolons present. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending; 30–70 cm long; 1 mm diam. Lateral branches lacking. Leaves 2–3 per branch. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades filiform; convolute; 4–8 cm long; 1 mm wide. Leaf-blade apex acute.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 1; single; bilateral; 2–4.5 cm long; bearing few fertile spikelets; bearing 2–7 fertile spikelets on each. Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis; lax; 2 -rowed.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 6–9 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets lanceolate, or oblong; laterally compressed; 9–15 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume linear, or oblong; 4–6 mm long; 0.7–0.8 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 5–7 -veined. Lower glume apex obtuse. Upper glume linear, or oblong; 5–8 mm long; 0.8–0.9 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 5–7 -veined. Upper glume apex obtuse.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 6–9 mm long; membranous; without keel; 7 -veined. Lemma apex obtuse; muticous. Palea oblong; 1 length of lemma. Palea keels ciliolate. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Anthers 3. Ovary with a fleshy appendage below style insertion; pubescent on apex.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; hairy at apex; apex fleshy. Hilum linear.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: western Asia.

NOTES Brachypodieae. Fl Turk 1993.

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