|
Note - this takes you off
of our website |
GrassBase - The Online World Grass Flora
Descriptions
W.D. Clayton, M. Vorontsova, K.T. Harman & H. Williamson
© Copyright The Board of Trustees, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
Anthoxanthum equisetum
HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped loosely. Culms 30–60 cm long; 3–4 -noded. Leaf-sheaths 5–20 cm long; glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.5 mm long. Leaf-blades 15–30 cm long; 4–8 mm wide. Leaf-blade venation comprising 15 vascular bundles. Leaf-blade surface ribbed; with rectangular ribs; pubescent; hairy adaxially.
INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.
Panicle open; ovate; 8–15 cm long. Primary panicle branches drooping; 2 -nate.
Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels 5–10 mm long; puberulous to villous; hairy above.
FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; laterally compressed; 7 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.
GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma; shiny. Lower glume ovate; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; much thinner on margins; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 7 mm long; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; with scarious margins; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.
FLORETS Basal sterile florets similar; male; with palea; attached to and deciduous with the fertile. Lemma of lower sterile floret oblong; 6 mm long; 1 length of fertile lemma; chartaceous; light brown; 1-keeled; pubescent; hairy below; ciliate on margins; dentate; 2 -fid; acute; awned. Awn of lower sterile floret dorsal; arising 0.33 way up back of lemma; geniculate; 6 mm long. Palea of lower sterile floret pubescent; adorned on keels. Lemma of upper sterile floret oblong; 1 length of lower sterile floret; chartaceous; ciliate on margins; dentate; 2 -fid; acute; awned. Awn of upper sterile floret dorsal; arising 0.33 way up back of lemma; geniculate; 6 mm long. Fertile lemma ovate; 5 mm long; cartilaginous; shiny; without keel. Lemma surface pubescent; hairy above. Lemma margins convolute; covering most of palea. Lemma apex mucronate. Principal lemma awn subapical. Palea elliptic; without keels.
FLOWER Anthers 2 (bisexual), or 3 (male); 2.5 mm long. Stigmas plumose. Ovary glabrous.
FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.
DISTRIBUTION Australasia: New Zealand.
NOTES Aveneae. Zotov 1994.
Please cite this publication as detailed in How to Cite Version: 3rd February 2016.
