Holcus grandiflorus

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Rhizomes short. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending; 60–75 cm long. Culm-internodes distally glabrous. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1–2 mm long. Leaf-blades 3–7 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous. Leaf-blade margins glabrous, or ciliate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; lanceolate, or oblong; loose; 5–15 cm long; 1–3 cm wide.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets elliptic; laterally compressed; 7–8 mm long; falling entire. Rhachilla internodes elongated below proximal fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume elliptic; 7–8 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; chartaceous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume surface pubescent; hairy on veins. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume elliptic; 7–8 mm long; 2 length of adjacent fertile lemma; chartaceous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Upper glume surface pubescent; hairy on veins. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic; 3.5–4 mm long; cartilaginous; shiny; keeled; keeled above; 3–5 -veined. Lemma lateral veins obscure. Lemma apex obtuse; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn dorsal; arising 0.5 way up back of lemma; geniculate; 1.5–2 mm long overall; with twisted column. Palea 1 length of lemma. Apical sterile florets 1 in number; male; elliptic; 3.5–4 mm long. Apical sterile lemmas awned; 1 -awned. Apical sterile lemma awns subapical; geniculate; 1–2 mm long.

FLOWER Anthers 3. Ovary glabrous.

DISTRIBUTION Europe: southwestern.

NOTES Aveneae. Fl Eur 1997.

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