Crithopsis delileana

HABIT Annual. Culms erect, or decumbent; 10–35 cm long. Leaf-sheath oral hairs lacking. Leaf-sheath auricles falcate. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades 2–7 cm long; 1–3 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scabrous; pilose. Leaf-blade margins scabrous. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 1; single; oblong; bilateral; 2–3.5 cm long. Rhachis fragile at the nodes; ciliate on margins. Rhachis hairs 2 mm long. Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis. Rhachis internodes oblong; falling with spikelet above.

Spikelets ascending; in pairs. Fertile spikelets sessile; 2 in the cluster.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets lanceolate; dorsally compressed; 12 mm long; falling entire; deciduous with accessory branch structures; readily shedding fertile florets.

GLUMES Glumes similar; exceeding apex of florets. Lower glume linear; 12 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; coriaceous; without keels; 3 -veined. Lower glume surface scabrous. Lower glume apex attenuate. Upper glume linear; 12 mm long; coriaceous; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume surface scabrous. Upper glume apex attenuate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic; 5–7 mm long; coriaceous; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma surface scabrous; villous; hairy above. Lemma apex attenuate; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn 5–7 mm long overall; limb scabrous. Palea 2 -veined. Palea keels ciliate. Apical sterile florets 1 in number; barren; linear; 3 mm long.

FLOWER Ovary pubescent on apex.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; ellipsoid; dorsally compressed; hairy at apex. Embryo 0.2 length of caryopsis. Hilum linear; 1 length of caryopsis.

DISTRIBUTION Europe: southeastern. Africa: north. Asia-temperate: western Asia.

NOTES Triticeae. Fl Iraq.

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