Gaudinia hispanica

HABIT Annual; caespitose. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending; 10–25 cm long. Leaf-sheaths hirsute. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades 2–5 cm long; 1 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface hirsute. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 1; single; bilateral; 5–10 cm long. Rhachis fragile at the nodes; flattened. Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis. Rhachis internodes linear; falling with spikelet above.

Spikelets appressed; solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 3–4 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets cuneate; laterally compressed; 6–9 mm long; falling entire; deciduous with accessory branch structures. Rhachilla internodes sparsely hairy.

GLUMES Glumes dissimilar; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 2.5 mm long; 0.5–0.6 length of upper glume; herbaceous; without keels; 3 -veined. Lower glume surface pubescent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume oblong; 4.5–5 mm long; 0.8 length of adjacent fertile lemma; herbaceous; without keels; 5–7 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins ribbed. Upper glume surface pubescent. Upper glume apex obtuse.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; 5.5–6.4 mm long; coriaceous; without keel; 7–9 -veined. Lemma lateral veins obscure. Lemma apex acute; muticous. Palea 0.9 length of lemma; 2 -veined. Palea keels scaberulous. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 3 mm long.

FRUIT Hilum punctiform. Endosperm liquid.

DISTRIBUTION Europe: southwestern.

NOTES Aveneae. Fl Eur.

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