Anthoxanthum laxum

HABIT Perennial. Rhizomes elongated. Culms erect; 20–75 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.75–2.5 mm long. Leaf-blades 2.5–17 cm long; 4–14 mm wide; aromatic. Leaf-blade surface glabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; oblong; 5–16 cm long. Panicle branches capillary.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 5–7 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet, or reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma; shiny; gaping. Lower glume ovate; 4–7 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 4–7 mm long; 1.3–1.8 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 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 elliptic; 4.5–5.5 mm long; 1.5 length of fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 5 -veined; ciliolate on margins; emarginate, or truncate; mucronate. Awn of lower sterile floret dorsal; 0.5–3 mm long. Fertile lemma ovate; 3–4 mm long; cartilaginous; shiny; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma surface pubescent; hairy above. Lemma margins convolute; covering most of palea; ciliate. Lemma apex acute. Palea elliptic; 1 -veined; 1-keeled.

FLOWER Lodicules 2. Anthers 2 (bisexual), or 3 (male). Stigmas pubescent. Ovary glabrous.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

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

NOTES Aveneae. Fl Pak 1993.

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