Cleistogenes squarrosa

HABIT Perennial; mat forming. Basal innovations extravaginal. Culms geniculately ascending; 15–25 cm long; 0.5–1 mm diam.; 6–8 -noded. Culm-internodes unequal, the upper longer; 5–15 cm long. Culm-nodes glabrous. Lateral branches sparse. Leaf-sheaths loose; longer than adjacent culm internode; glabrous on surface. Ligule a fringe of hairs; 0.2 mm long. Leaf-blades linear, or lanceolate; 1–5 cm long; 0.5–1.5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scabrous. Leaf-blade margins scabrous; ciliate; hairy at base. Leaf-blade apex attenuate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes single, or borne along a central axis; unilateral; 0.5–1.2 cm long, or 3–4 cm long (when single); bearing few fertile spikelets; bearing 1–2 fertile spikelets on each. Central inflorescence axis 3–4 cm long. Spikelet packing lax.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels oblong; 0.5–1 mm long.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2–4 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets lanceolate; laterally compressed; 8–10 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes 1.5–1.8 mm long; pubescent; hairy at tip. Floret callus pubescent.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; dissimilar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 2–2.4 mm long; 0.6 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume surface scabrous. Lower glume apex obtuse, or acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 3.5–4 mm long; 0.4 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1–3 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent, or distinct. Upper glume surface scabrous. Upper glume apex obtuse, or acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; 5.2–6 mm long; 1.2–1.4 mm wide; membranous; keeled; 3–5 -veined. Lemma surface asperulous. Lemma margins ciliate; hairy below. Lemma hairs 0.7–1 mm long. Lemma apex dentate; 2 -fid; with filiform lobes; with lobes 0.6 mm long; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn from a sinus; 3–4 mm long overall. Palea 1 length of lemma; 2 -veined. Palea keels ciliolate. Palea apex dentate; 2 -fid; awned; awns 0.8 mm long. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; cuneate; fleshy. Anthers 3; 2.5 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

CLEISTOGENES AND VIVIPARY Cleistogenes present; in upper sheaths.

DISTRIBUTION Europe: eastern. Asia-temperate: Siberia, Soviet far east, Soviet Middle Asia, Caucasus, China, and Mongolia.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Conert.

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