Graphephorum wolfii

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Rhizomes absent, or short. Culms erect; 50–100 cm long. Leaf-sheaths antrorsely scabrous. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades 7–30 cm long; 2–4 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scabrous; glabrous, or pilose; hairy adaxially.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle contracted; linear; 8–15 cm long. Panicle branches scaberulous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels linear, or oblong.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2(–3) fertile florets; with a barren rhachilla extension. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 5–7 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes 2 mm long; pilose. Floret callus pubescent.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume elliptic; 5–6 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume primary vein scaberulous. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume elliptic; 5–6 mm long; 1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Upper glume primary vein scaberulous. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic; 5–6 mm long; cartilaginous; much thinner above; keeled; 5 -veined. Lemma surface asperulous. Lemma apex obtuse; muticous, or mucronate. Principal lemma awn subapical. Palea embraced by lemma. Palea keels scaberulous. Rhachilla extension glabrous.

FLOWER Ovary glabrous.

DISTRIBUTION North America: western Canada, northwest USA, southwest USA, and south-central USA.

NOTES Aveneae. Man US.

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