Corynephorus divaricatus

HABIT Annual; caespitose. Culms erect; 7–42 cm long; 3 -noded. Leaf-sheaths scaberulous. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 5–8 mm long; acute. Leaf-blades filiform; involute; 2–4.5 cm long; 0.5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scabrous; rough abaxially.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; 2–10 cm long; 0.5–7 cm wide; with spikelets clustered towards branch tips. Primary panicle branches spreading; 3–6 cm long. Panicle branches capillary.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels 1.2–3 mm long; scaberulous.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2 fertile florets; with a barren rhachilla extension. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 4–4.5 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes pilose. Floret callus bearded. Floret callus hairs 0.25–0.66 length of lemma.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; shiny. Lower glume lanceolate; 3–4(–5) mm long; 0.8–1 length of upper glume; membranous; purple; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume primary vein scabrous. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 3.7–4.3 mm long; 2–2.5 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; purple; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume primary vein scabrous. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 1.5–2 mm long; membranous; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma lateral veins obscure. Lemma apex dentate; 2 -fid; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn dorsal; arising 0.1–0.2 way up back of lemma; with clavate limb; 2.5 mm long overall; not or scarcely exserted from spikelet; with twisted column. Column of lemma awn with bearded apex.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 0.4–0.5 mm long. Ovary glabrous.

FRUIT Hilum punctiform.

DISTRIBUTION Europe: southwestern and southeastern. Africa: north. Asia-temperate: Caucasus and western Asia.

NOTES Aveneae. Fl Turk 1993.

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