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Descriptions

W.D. Clayton, M. Vorontsova, K.T. Harman & H. Williamson

© Copyright The Board of Trustees, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Holcus mollis

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending; 20–110 cm long; 4–7 -noded. Culm-internodes distally glabrous. Culm-nodes bearded. Leaf-sheaths pilose; with reflexed hairs. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1–5 mm long. Leaf-blades 4–20 cm long; 3–12 mm wide; mid-green, or grey-green. Leaf-blade surface glabrous, or pubescent.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; oblong, or ovate; dense, or loose; 4–12(–22) cm long. Panicle branches pubescent.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels 1–4 mm long.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets elliptic; laterally compressed; (3.5–)5–7 mm long; falling entire. Rhachilla internodes elongated below proximal fertile floret. Floret callus bearded.

GLUMES Glumes similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; (3.5–)5–7 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; chartaceous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume primary vein ciliate. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume surface asperulous. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume elliptic; (3.5–)5–7 mm long; 2 length of adjacent fertile lemma; chartaceous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Upper glume primary vein ciliate. Upper glume surface asperulous; pubescent; hairy on veins. Upper glume apex acute; mucronate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic; (2.2–)2.5–3 mm long; cartilaginous; shiny; keeled; keeled above; 5 -veined. Lemma lateral veins obscure. Lemma surface glabrous, or puberulous; hairy above. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea 1 length of lemma. Apical sterile florets 1 in number; male; elliptic; 2.5–3 mm long. Apical sterile lemmas awned; 1 -awned. Apical sterile lemma awns subapical; straight; 3.5–5 mm long (exserted).

FLOWER Anthers 3; 1.6–2.7 mm long. Ovary glabrous.

DISTRIBUTION Europe: northern, central, southwestern, southeastern, and eastern. Africa: north and Macaronesia. Asia-tropical: India. Australasia: Australia and New Zealand. North America: western Canada, northwest USA, northeast USA, and southwest USA.

NOTES Aveneae. TAC.

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