Anthoxanthum odoratum

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Rhizomes elongated. Culms erect; 20–50 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1.5–5(–6.5) mm long. Leaf-blades 18–30 cm long; 4–10 mm wide; aromatic. Leaf-blade margins scaberulous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle contracted; ovate; 4–11 cm long. Primary panicle branches spreading; 2–4.5 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels 2–4 mm long; glabrous.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; laterally compressed; 4–6 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; reaching apex of florets, or shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma; shiny. Lower glume ovate; 4–6 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1–3 -veined. Lower glume apex obtuse. Upper glume ovate; 4–6 mm long; 1.2–1.6 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1–3 -veined. Upper glume apex obtuse.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets similar; barren; without significant palea; attached to and deciduous with the fertile. Lemma of lower sterile floret elliptic; 3.5–4.5 mm long; 1.2 length of fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 5 -veined; puberulous; ciliolate on margins; obtuse; muticous, or mucronate. Fertile lemma ovate; 3 mm long; cartilaginous; shiny; without keel; 3–5 -veined. Lemma surface pubescent; hairy above. Lemma margins convolute; covering most of palea. Lemma apex acute; mucronate. Palea elliptic; 0.8 length of lemma; 1 -veined; without keels.

FLOWER Lodicules 2. Anthers 2 (bisexual), or 3 (male); 1–3 mm long (bisexual 1–2mm, male 2–3mm). Stigmas plumose. Ovary glabrous.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; ellipsoid. Embryo 0.5 length of caryopsis. Hilum linear.

DISTRIBUTION Europe: northern, central, southwestern, southeastern, and eastern. Africa: north, Macaronesia, south, middle Atlantic ocean, and western Indian ocean. Asia-temperate: Siberia, Soviet far east, Soviet Middle Asia, Caucasus, western Asia, China, Mongolia, and eastern Asia. Asia-tropical: India. Australasia: Australia and New Zealand. Pacific: south-central and north-central. North America: Subarctic, western Canada, eastern Canada, northwest USA, north-central USA, northeast USA, southwest USA, southeast USA, and Mexico. South America: Mesoamericana, Caribbean, northern South America, western South America, Brazil, and southern South America. Antarctic: Subantarctic islands.

NOTES Aveneae. TAC.

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