Glyceria nemoralis

HABIT Perennial. Culms 40–110 cm long. Leaf-sheaths tubular for much of their length; with 1 of their length closed; smooth; glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 3–3.5 mm long; lacerate. Leaf-blades 2–5 mm wide; light green. Leaf-blade surface scaberulous; rough adaxially. Leaf-blade margins scabrous. Leaf-blade apex acute, or acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; 15–35 cm long. Primary panicle branches spreading; bearing 1–16 fertile spikelets on each lower branch. Panicle branches smooth.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 7–10 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets elliptic, or ovate; laterally compressed; 7–10 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume oblong; 1.5–1.7 mm long; 0.8 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels. Lower glume apex obtuse. Upper glume oblong; 1.8–2 mm long; 0.66 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels. Upper glume apex obtuse.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic, or obovate; 3–3.5 mm long; membranous; much thinner above; without keel; 7 -veined. Lemma lateral veins with distinct primaries but obscure intermediates. Lemma surface smooth. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea 1 length of lemma; 2 -veined. Palea keels winged; narrowly winged. Palea apex dentate; 2 -fid. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; united; oblong; fleshy; truncate. Anthers 3; 1–1.5 mm long; yellow.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Hilum linear.

DISTRIBUTION Europe: central, southeastern, and eastern. Asia-temperate: Caucasus and western Asia.

NOTES Meliceae. Fl Turk 1993.

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