Crypsis alopecuroides

HABIT Annual. Culms geniculately ascending; 2–35 cm long. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades 8–10 cm long; 0.5–3 mm wide; mid-green to glaucous. Leaf-blade surface pubescent; hairy adaxially. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle spiciform; linear; 0.5–7.5 cm long; 0.3–0.6 cm wide. Primary panicle branches accrescent to a central axis; with lateral stumps on axis.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; laterally compressed; 2–2.5 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 1.5–2.2 mm long; 0.8–1 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume primary vein ciliolate. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex obtuse, or acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 1.8–2.2 mm long; 0.9 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume primary vein ciliolate. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex obtuse, or acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; laterally compressed; 2–2.5 mm long; membranous; keeled; 1 -veined. Lemma apex acute. Palea 1–1.5 mm long; 2 -veined. Palea apex obtuse.

FLOWER Lodicules absent. Anthers 3; 0.6–1 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with free soft pericarp; ellipsoid; 1–1.2 mm long; apex unappendaged.

DISTRIBUTION Europe: central, southwestern, southeastern, and eastern. Africa: north. Asia-temperate: Siberia, Soviet Middle Asia, Caucasus, and western Asia. North America: northwest USA.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Fl Turk 1993.

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