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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 planiculme

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Rhizomes elongated. Culms robust; 70–120 cm long; 1 -noded. Culm-internodes elliptical in section; antrorsely scabrous. Lateral branches lacking. Leaves mostly basal. Leaf-sheaths antrorsely scabrous; glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 3–11 mm long; acute. Leaf-blades conduplicate; 4–27 cm long; 3–7 mm wide. Leaf-blade margins cartilaginous; scabrous. Leaf-blade apex acute.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle; comprising 12–26 fertile spikelets.

Panicle open; linear; interrupted; 14–16 cm long; 1–2 cm wide. Primary panicle branches appressed; 3–7.5 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels flattened; 5.5–15 mm long; scabrous.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 4–5 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 17–25 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes 3 mm long; pilose; with 1.5–2.5 mm long hairs. Floret callus pilose.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma; shiny. Lower glume lanceolate; 11–16 mm long; 0.75 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; 14–20 mm long; 1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 14–20 mm long; cartilaginous; light brown and purple; suffused with last colour; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma lateral veins distinct. Lemma apex dentate; 2 -fid; acute; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn dorsal; arising 0.5 way up back of lemma; geniculate; flat below; 15–22 mm long overall; with twisted column. Palea keels ciliolate. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 5.5–8 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.