Graphephorum melicoides

HABIT Perennial. Culms 50–100 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades 2–8 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; elliptic; 10–20 cm long. Panicle branches scaberulous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels filiform.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2–3 fertile florets; with a barren rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; laterally compressed; 6–7 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes definite; pilose. Floret callus bearded. Floret callus hairs 0.33–0.5 length of lemma.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma; shiny. Lower glume elliptic; 0.9 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume primary vein scaberulous. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume elliptic; 1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Upper glume primary vein scaberulous. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic; 5–6 mm long; membranous; much thinner on margins; shiny; keeled; 5 -veined. Lemma apex acute. Palea embraced by lemma. Palea keels scaberulous. Rhachilla extension 0.33–0.5 length of fertile floret; villous.

FLOWER Ovary glabrous.

DISTRIBUTION North America: eastern Canada, north-central USA, and northeast USA.

NOTES Aveneae. WDC.

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