Helictotrichon potaninii

HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped loosely. Culms erect; 25–50 cm long. Culm-internodes smooth; distally glabrous. Lateral branches lacking. Leaf-sheaths smooth; glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1.5–3.5 mm long; glabrous on abaxial surface. Leaf-blades 2–4 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface smooth, or scaberulous; rough adaxially; glabrous, or pilose; hairy adaxially.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle contracted; lanceolate; 5–8 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 3–4 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 7–9.5 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes villous; with 3–4 mm long hairs.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma; shiny. Lower glume lanceolate; 0.75 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; 7–9.5 mm long; 1.1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; 7–9.5 mm long; cartilaginous; much thinner above; shiny; without keel; 7 -veined. Lemma surface scaberulous. Lemma apex dentate; 2 -fid; setaceously attenuate; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn dorsal; arising 0.5 way up back of lemma; geniculate; 10–14 mm long overall; with twisted column. Palea keels ciliolate. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 1–1.6 mm long. Ovary pubescent on apex.

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

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: China.

NOTES Aveneae. Pl Cent Asia 1996.

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