Cynosurus turcomanicus

HABIT Annual. Culms 25–59 cm long. Lateral branches lacking. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 8 mm long; acute. Leaf-blades flat, or convolute; 3 mm wide. Leaf-blade venation prominent. Leaf-blade surface pubescent; densely hairy; hairy adaxially. Leaf-blade margins scaberulous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle contracted; ovate; 2.5–5 cm long.

Spikelets in pairs. Fertile spikelets sessile; 1 in the cluster. Companion sterile spikelets sessile; 1 in the cluster.

STERILE SPIKELETS Companion sterile spikelets well-developed; containing empty lemmas; ovate; laterally compressed; persistent. Companion sterile spikelet lemmas exserted from glumes; 1-awned.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2–3 fertile florets; with a barren rhachilla extension. Spikelets cuneate; laterally compressed; 2.5–4 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume linear; hyaline; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex setaceously attenuate. Upper glume linear; 3–4 mm long; 1.5–2 length of adjacent fertile lemma; hyaline; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex setaceously attenuate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; 2–3 mm long; coriaceous; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma surface pubescent; hairy above. Lemma apex dentate; 2 -fid; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn from a sinus; 10–15 mm long overall.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: Soviet Middle Asia.

NOTES Poeae. Proskuriakova 2006.

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