Anthoxanthum flexuosum

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms 30–60 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades 5–12 cm long; 2–4 mm wide. Leaf-blade apex abruptly acute.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; effuse; 5–8 cm long. Panicle branches capillary; flexuous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets cuneate; laterally compressed; 5 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma; shiny. Lower glume ovate; 5 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; purple; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 5 mm long; 1.4–1.5 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; purple; 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; 5 mm long; 1 length of fertile lemma; chartaceous; 1-keeled; 5 -veined; pubescent; dentate; 2 -fid; obtuse; mucronate, or awned. Awn of lower sterile floret 1.5 mm long. Lemma of upper sterile floret oblong; 5 mm long; chartaceous; pubescent; lobed; 2 -fid; obtuse; awned. Awn of upper sterile floret dorsal; arising 0.5 way up back of lemma; geniculate; 5–6 mm long. Fertile florets female. Fertile lemma ovate; 3.5 mm long; chartaceous; without keel. Lemma surface pubescent; hairy above. Lemma margins convolute; covering most of palea. Lemma apex acute. Palea elliptic; 1 length of lemma; 1 -veined; without keels.

FLOWER Anthers 2 (bisexual), or 3 (male); 1.5 mm long. Staminodes present. Stigmas pubescent. Ovary glabrous.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-tropical: India.

NOTES Aveneae. WDC 1994.

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