Helictotrichon schmidii

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect; 40–60 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades 5–10 cm long; 2–3 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle contracted; linear, or lanceolate; 5–20 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 4–6 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets cuneate; laterally compressed; 6–9 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes pilose.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 4–5 mm long; 0.66 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume elliptic; 6–7 mm long; 0.66–0.75 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic; 7–9 mm long; cartilaginous; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma surface asperulous. Lemma apex dentate; 2 -fid; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn dorsal; arising 0.75 way up back of lemma; curved; 9–10 mm long overall. Palea keels pubescent. Apical sterile florets rudimentary.

FLOWER Lodicules 2. Anthers 3. Ovary pubescent on apex.

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

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: China. Asia-tropical: India.

NOTES Aveneae. WDC 1994.

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