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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 compressum

HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped densely. Culms erect; slender; 15–58 cm long; 1–2 -noded. Culm-internodes elliptical in section (slightly at base). Lateral branches lacking. Leaves mostly basal. Leaf-sheaths smooth; glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1–10 mm long; acuminate. Leaf-blades conduplicate; 3–10 cm long; 1–4 mm wide; glaucous. Leaf-blade apex acute.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle; comprising 7–17 fertile spikelets.

Panicle open; oblong; 4–12.5 cm long; 0.5–3 cm wide.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels 1–7 mm long; scaberulous.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 3–6 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 14–24 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes 1–2.5 mm long; glabrous. Floret callus pubescent. Floret callus hairs 0.5–1 mm long.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma; shiny. Lower glume lanceolate; 8–11 mm long; 0.75 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 10–13 mm long; 1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 9–13 mm long; cartilaginous; light brown, or red; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma lateral veins prominent. Lemma surface scabrous. Lemma apex dentate; 2 -fid; acute; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn dorsal; arising 0.5 way up back of lemma; geniculate; flat below; 16 mm long overall; with twisted column. Palea 7.5–10 mm long. Palea keels eciliate. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 4–6 mm long. Ovary pubescent on apex.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; hairy at apex. Hilum linear.

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

NOTES Aveneae. Fl Turk 1993.

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