Corynephorus fasciculatus

HABIT Annual; caespitose. Culms erect; 20–60 cm long. Culm-nodes purple. Leaf-sheaths scaberulous. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 3–9 mm long. Leaf-blades filiform; involute; 1–8 cm long; 0.2–1 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; pyramidal; effuse; 5–18 cm long; with spikelets clustered towards branch tips.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2 fertile florets; with a barren rhachilla extension. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 2.8–3.7 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes pilose. Floret callus pubescent. Floret callus hairs 0.15–0.25 length of lemma.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; shiny. Lower glume lanceolate; 2.6–3.2 mm long; 0.8–1 length of upper glume; membranous; pallid, or purple; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; 2.8–3.7 mm long; 1.8–2 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; pallid, or purple; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 1.5–1.8 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 scarcely tapering limb; 2.4–2.8 mm long overall; not or scarcely exserted from spikelet; with twisted column. Column of lemma awn 1 mm long; with bearded apex.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 0.3–0.6 mm long. Ovary glabrous.

FRUIT Caryopsis 1 mm long. Hilum punctiform.

DISTRIBUTION Europe: southwestern and southeastern. Africa: north and south. Australasia: Australia. South America: southern South America.

NOTES Aveneae. Gr Extremad 1993.

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