Eremopoa mardinensis

HABIT Annual. Culms 14–30 cm long. Leaf-sheaths longer than adjacent culm internode. Ligule an eciliate membrane; obtuse. Leaf-blades 4–6 cm long; 1.8–2.5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; 8–12 cm long; 4–9 cm wide. Primary panicle branches 6–10 -nate; whorled at most nodes; branching divaricately; 3.5–8 cm long. Panicle branches scabrous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels filiform.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 8–12 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets elliptic; laterally compressed; 7.5–11.5 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes eventually visible between lemmas.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume ovate; 1.5–1.9 mm long; 0.6–0.7 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 2.2–2.8 mm long; 0.75 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile florets divergent; free at tip. Fertile lemma lanceolate; lanceolate in profile; 2.7–4 mm long; membranous; much thinner above; keeled; 5 -veined. Lemma surface glabrous. Lemma apex attenuate. Palea keels scabrous; adorned above. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Anthers 3; linear, or oblong; 1.5–2.1 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: western Asia.

NOTES Poeae. Fl Turk 1996.

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