Helictotrichon parlatorei

HABIT Perennial. Rhizomes short. Butt sheaths persistent and investing base of culm; with compacted dead sheaths. Culms 40–80 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 3–6 mm long; lacerate. Leaf-blades flat, or convolute; 20–40 cm long; 2–4 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface ribbed.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle; comprising 15–45 fertile spikelets.

Panicle open; linear, or oblong; 10–13 cm long. Primary panicle branches bearing 3–5 fertile spikelets on each lower branch. Panicle axis scabrous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels 3–4 mm long; glabrous.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2–3 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 10–11 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating above glumes but not between florets. Rhachilla internodes 2–3 mm long; pilose; with 2–3 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; 7–10 mm long; 0.75 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume elliptic; 9–12 mm long; 1.2 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic; 7–10 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; subterete below; 12–20 mm long overall; with twisted column. Palea 7–9 mm long. 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: central, southwestern, and southeastern.

NOTES Aveneae. Fl Eur 1995.

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