Helictotrichon crassifolium

HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped loosely. Rhizomes absent, or short. Butt sheaths pubescent. Basal innovations extravaginal. Culms 35–60 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 2–5 mm long; 0.1–0.3 mm long on basal shoots; acute. Leaf-blades convolute; 15–30 cm long; 2–4.5 mm wide; fleshy. Leaf-blade venation with 10–13 secondary veins; without layer of subepidermal sclerenchyma masking vein striation. Leaf-blade surface ungrooved.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle; comprising 5–10 fertile spikelets.

Panicle open; linear, or oblong; 7–15 cm long; bearing few spikelets. Primary panicle branches indistinct the panicle almost racemose.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 5–7 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 15–28 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes pilose; with 1.5 mm long hairs. Floret callus pilose. Floret callus hairs 1.5–2 mm long.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume elliptic; 12–15 mm long; 0.75 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume elliptic; 15–18 mm long; 1–1.1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic; 13–18 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; 17–23 mm long overall; with twisted column. Palea keels ciliolate. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 5–6.5 mm long. Ovary pubescent on apex.

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

DISTRIBUTION Europe: southwestern.

NOTES Aveneae. Fl Eur 1995.

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