Colpodium humile

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Butt sheaths thickened and forming a bulb; persistent and investing base of culm; with compacted dead sheaths. Culms erect; 7–30 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades 2–5 cm long; 1 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; 3–7.5 cm long; 2–5 cm wide. Primary panicle branches spreading; 1–3 -nate.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1–2 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets cuneate; laterally compressed; 3–4 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus glabrous.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet; similar to fertile lemma in texture; gaping. Lower glume elliptic; 1.5–2 mm long; 0.7–0.8 length of upper glume; membranous; much thinner above; much thinner on margins; 1-keeled; keeled below; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume elliptic, or obovate; 2–2.5 mm long; 0.8–1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; much thinner above; with hyaline margins; 1-keeled; keeled below; 3 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins all falling short of apex. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 2.5 mm long; membranous; much thinner above; keeled; 5 -veined. Lemma midvein ciliate. Lemma lateral veins less than two thirds length of lemma. Lemma surface pilose; hairy on veins. Lemma apex erose; truncate. Palea keels smooth; ciliolate.

FLOWER Anthers 3.

FRUIT Hilum elliptic.

DISTRIBUTION Europe: eastern. Asia-temperate: Siberia, Soviet Middle Asia, Caucasus, western Asia, and China.

NOTES Poeae. Fl Iran 1993.

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