Deyeuxia varia

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Rhizomes short. Culms erect; 30–120 cm long; 3 -noded. Culm-internodes smooth. Leaf-sheath oral hairs lacking, or ciliate. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 2–4 mm long; lacerate; obtuse. Leaf-blades 10–25 cm long; 4–9 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; linear; dense; 5–20 cm long. Primary panicle branches bearing spikelets almost to the base. Panicle branches scabrous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; with a barren rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; laterally compressed; 4–6 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus bearded. Floret callus hairs 0.5–0.75 length of lemma.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; reaching apex of florets; firmer than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 4–6 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume primary vein smooth, or scaberulous. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; 1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Upper glume primary vein smooth, or scaberulous. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 4–6 mm long; membranous; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma surface asperulous. Lemma apex dentate; 2 -fid; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn dorsal; arising 0–0.1 way up back of lemma; geniculate; 1–3 mm long overall; with twisted column. Palea 1 length of lemma. Rhachilla extension 1 mm long; pilose.

FLOWER Lodicules 2. Anthers 3; 1.5 mm long; dehiscent by a longitudinal slit. Stigmas 2.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Hilum punctiform. Disseminule comprising a floret.

DISTRIBUTION Europe: northern, central, southwestern, southeastern, and eastern.

NOTES Aveneae. Fl Eur 1995.

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