Eremopoa altaica

HABIT Annual. Culms 15–27 cm long. Leaf-sheaths longer than adjacent culm internode. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1–1.5 mm long; acute. Leaf-blades 5–7 cm long; 0.5–1.2 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scabrous; rough adaxially. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; effuse; 7–18 cm long; 1–6 cm wide. Primary panicle branches 7–15 -nate; whorled at most nodes; 0.9–2.5 cm long; sterile at lowest node. Panicle branches scabrous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels filiform.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1–3 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets elliptic; laterally compressed; 2–3.5 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes definite; scaberulous.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume elliptic; 1.6–2 mm long; 0.8 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume elliptic; 2–2.5(–2.7) mm long; 1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; oblong in profile (narrowly); 2–2.5 mm long; membranous; much thinner above; purple; keeled; 5 -veined. Lemma surface pubescent; hairy below; hairy on veins. Lemma apex apiculate. Palea keels scabrous; adorned above. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Anthers 3.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; 1.8 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION Europe: eastern. Africa: north. Asia-temperate: Siberia, Soviet Middle Asia, Caucasus, western Asia, and China. Asia-tropical: India.

NOTES Poeae. Scholz.

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