Helictotrichon bromoides

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Butt sheaths glabrous. Culms erect; 25–50 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.5–2 mm long; truncate, or obtuse. Leaf-blades straight, or tortuous; flat, or conduplicate; 3–10 cm long; 1–3 mm wide. Leaf-blade margins cartilaginous; scabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; linear; 4–20 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 3–5 fertile florets; with a barren rhachilla extension. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 14–20 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes glabrous. Floret callus pilose; with elliptic scar.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume elliptic; 5–8 mm long; 0.5–0.75 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume elliptic; 9–10 mm long; 1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 3–5 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate, or oblong; 9–11 mm long; cartilaginous; without keel; 5–7 -veined. Lemma lateral veins obscure. Lemma surface glabrous, or pubescent; hairy at base. Lemma apex entire, or dentate; 2 -fid; emarginate; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn dorsal; arising 0.6 way up back of lemma; geniculate; 12–17 mm long overall; with twisted column.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 5–5.5 mm long. Ovary pubescent on apex.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; oblong; 3 mm long; hairy at apex. Hilum linear.

DISTRIBUTION Europe: southwestern and southeastern. Africa: north.

NOTES Aveneae. Gr Extremad 1993.

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