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 spicatum

HABIT Perennial. Rhizomes short. Culms 100–130 cm long; 3–4 -noded. Leaf-sheaths mostly shorter than adjacent culm internode; striately veined; antrorsely scabrous; glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 4–5 mm long; acute. Leaf-blades flat, or convolute; 23–35 cm long; 8–10 mm wide; aromatic. Leaf-blade surface glabrous. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle spiciform; linear; continuous, or interrupted; 15 cm long; 1–1.5 cm wide. Primary panicle branches appressed; 1–2 -nate. Panicle axis glabrous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets cuneate; laterally compressed; 6.5 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume elliptic; 5.5 mm long; 0.8–0.9 length of upper glume; hyaline; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume ovate; 6.5 mm long; 1.6 length of adjacent fertile lemma; hyaline; 1-keeled; 3 -veined.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets similar; male; with palea; attached to and deciduous with the fertile. Lemma of lower sterile floret oblong; 5 mm long; 1.2 length of fertile lemma; chartaceous; dark brown; 1-keeled; scaberulous; rough above; ciliate on midvein (at base); ciliolate on margins; truncate, or obtuse; awned. Awn of lower sterile floret subapical; 1–1.5 mm long. Lemma of upper sterile floret oblong; 5 mm long; 1 length of lower sterile floret; chartaceous; scabrous; ciliolate on margins; truncate, or obtuse; awned. Awn of upper sterile floret subapical; 1–1.5 mm long. Fertile lemma oblong; 4 mm long; cartilaginous; without keel. Lemma surface pubescent; hairy above. Lemma margins convolute; covering most of palea; ciliate. Lemma apex acute. Palea 1 -veined; 1-keeled.

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

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION South America: southern South America.

NOTES Aveneae. Parodi 2004.

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