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Descriptions
W.D. Clayton, M. Vorontsova, K.T. Harman & H. Williamson
© Copyright The Board of Trustees, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
Helictotrichon aetolicum
HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped loosely. Rhizomes short. Culms slender; 20–60 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 4–6 mm long; 4–6 mm long on basal shoots; acute. Leaf-blades conduplicate; 4–8 cm long; 1.5–2 mm wide. Leaf-blade venation with subepidermal sclerenchyma attached to veins above; without layer of subepidermal sclerenchyma masking vein striation. Leaf-blade surface ungrooved; smooth. Leaf-blade margins scaberulous. Leaf-blade apex obtuse.
INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.
Panicle open; linear, or oblong; 5–10 cm long. Primary panicle branches 1 -nate; 0.6–1 cm long. Panicle branches scabrous.
Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.
FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 5–7 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 20 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes 2–2.5 mm long; pilose; with 1.5 mm long hairs. Floret callus pilose.
GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma; shiny. Lower glume elliptic; 11 mm long; 0.75 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume elliptic; 14 mm long; 1–1.1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.
FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic; 12–14 mm long; cartilaginous; without keel; 5–7 -veined. Lemma apex dentate; 2 -fid; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn dorsal; arising 0.5 way up back of lemma; geniculate; flat below; 12–16 mm long overall; with twisted column. Palea keels ciliolate. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.
FLOWER Anthers 3. Ovary pubescent on apex.
FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; hairy at apex. Hilum linear.
DISTRIBUTION Europe: southeastern.
NOTES Aveneae. Fl Eur 1995.
Please cite this publication as detailed in How to Cite Version: 3rd February 2016.