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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 versicolor

HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped loosely. Basal innovations extravaginal. Culms 15–40 cm long. Leaf-sheaths tubular for much of their length; with 0.33 of their length closed. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 3–5 mm long; 1–2 mm long on basal shoots; acute. Leaf-blades 5–20 cm long; 2–4.5 mm wide; glaucous. Leaf-blade venation with 6–8 secondary veins; subepidermal sclerenchyma free from veins; without layer of subepidermal sclerenchyma masking vein striation. Leaf-blade surface ungrooved; smooth.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; linear, or oblong; 3–8 cm long. Primary panicle branches 1–2 -nate.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 4–6 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 10–15 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes 1.5–2 mm long; pilose; with 2 mm long hairs. Floret callus pubescent. Floret callus hairs 1 mm long.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma; shiny. Lower glume elliptic; 6–8 mm long; 0.66 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume elliptic; 9–12 mm long; 1.1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma obovate; 8–11 mm long; cartilaginous; without keel; 5–7 -veined. Lemma lateral veins excurrent. Lemma apex dentate; 2 -fid; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn dorsal; arising 0.5–0.66 way up back of lemma; geniculate; flat below; 11–14 mm long overall; with twisted column. 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, southeastern, and eastern. Asia-temperate: western Asia.

NOTES Aveneae. Fl Eur 1995.

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