Colpodium czirahicum

HABIT Perennial. Rhizomes elongated. Culms geniculately ascending; 60–80 cm long. Leaf-sheaths tubular for much of their length. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 5(–7) mm long; acute. Leaf-blades flat, or conduplicate; 5(–7) mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; dense; nodding; 15–17 cm long; 5–8 cm wide. Primary panicle branches 2–3 -nate; 10–12 cm long. Panicle branches smooth.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2–4 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets cuneate; laterally compressed; 6.5–9.5 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet; similar to fertile lemma in texture. Lower glume lanceolate, or ovate; 5 mm long; 0.75–0.8 length of upper glume; membranous. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate, or ovate; 6 mm long; 1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous. Upper glume lateral veins all falling short of apex. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 6 mm long; membranous; much thinner above; mid-green and purple; tipped with last colour; keeled; 5 -veined. Lemma lateral veins less than two thirds length of lemma. Lemma surface pubescent; hairy below; hairy on back and on veins. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea keels smooth; ciliolate.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 3 mm long; yellow.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: Caucasus.

NOTES Poeae. Gussejnov 2006.

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