Calamagrostis canescens

HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped loosely. Rhizomes short. Culms erect; 50–120 cm long. Lateral branches lacking. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1–7 mm long; obtuse. Leaf-blades flat, or convolute; 6–20 cm long; 3–6 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface pubescent; hairy adaxially. Leaf-blade margins scabrous. Leaf-blade apex attenuate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; lanceolate, or oblong; nodding; 5–23 cm long; 1.5–6 cm wide.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels 0.7–3 mm long.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; laterally compressed; 4.5–6 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus bearded. Floret callus hairs 1.2 length of lemma.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; firmer than fertile lemma; gaping. Lower glume lanceolate; 4.5–6 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume surface asperulous. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; 4.5–6 mm long; 1.5 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Upper glume surface asperulous. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 2.7–4 mm long; hyaline; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma surface scaberulous. Lemma apex dentate; 2 -fid; truncate; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn subapical, or from a sinus; 0.5–1 mm long overall; not or scarcely exserted from spikelet. Palea 0.66 length of lemma; hyaline; 2 -veined.

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

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Hilum punctiform.

DISTRIBUTION Europe: northern, central, southwestern, southeastern, and eastern. Asia-temperate: Siberia, Caucasus, and western Asia.

NOTES Aveneae. Fl Turk 1993.

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