Calamagrostis balkharica

HABIT Perennial; culms solitary. Stolons present. Butt sheaths persistent and investing base of culm. Basal innovations intravaginal. Culms erect; 50–70 cm long; 3 -noded. Lateral branches lacking. Leaf-sheaths smooth. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 2–5 mm long; entire, or lacerate; truncate, or obtuse. Leaf-blades convolute; 15–25 cm long; 3–5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scabrous; glabrous. Leaf-blade margins scabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; lanceolate; 8–12 cm long. Primary panicle branches 2–4 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; laterally compressed; 6 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus bearded. Floret callus hairs 4.5 mm long; 0.66–0.75 length of lemma.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; firmer than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; 3 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic, or oblong; 2 mm long; membranous; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma surface smooth, or asperulous. Lemma apex dentate; 4 -fid; truncate; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn dorsal; arising 0.66–0.75 way up back of lemma; straight; 3 mm long overall; without a column. Palea 1.2 mm long.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; 0.4 mm long. Anthers 3; 1.5 mm long. Stigmas 2.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; ellipsoid; 1.2 mm long. Hilum punctiform. Disseminule comprising a floret.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: Caucasus.

NOTES Aveneae. Smirnov 1995.

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