Cutandia rigescens

HABIT Annual. Culms geniculately ascending; 6–20 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades flat, or conduplicate, or convolute; 2–6 cm long; 1–2 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scabrous; rough adaxially.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; elliptic, or ovate; 3–10 cm long. Primary panicle branches spreading; simple; bearing 3–5 fertile spikelets on each lower branch. Panicle axis scabrous. Panicle branches stiff; straight; angular; scabrous; with prominent pulvini.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels oblong; angular; 1.5–2 mm long; scabrous.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 3–7 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets linear; laterally compressed; 7–10 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes 1–1.2 mm long; scaberulous.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 2.5 mm long; 0.7–0.8 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 3 mm long; 0.66 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile florets appressed to rhachilla. Fertile lemma elliptic; 5 mm long; coriaceous; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma surface scaberulous. Lemma apex acute. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; membranous. Anthers 3. Ovary glabrous.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: Caucasus.

NOTES Poeae. Fl Iran 1993.

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