Koeleria cenisia

HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped densely. Butt sheaths thickened and forming a bulb; pubescent; persistent and investing base of culm; with compacted dead sheaths. Culms geniculately ascending; 10–25 cm long. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1 mm long; lacerate. Leaf-blades flat, or convolute; 2–5 cm long; 0.5–1 mm wide; stiff; glaucous. Leaf-blade surface glabrous, or pubescent.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle. Peduncle glabrous.

Panicle spiciform; oblong; interrupted; loose; 1–5 cm long; 0.8 cm wide. Panicle axis glabrous. Panicle branches pubescent.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2–3 fertile florets; with a barren rhachilla extension, or with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets obovate; laterally compressed; 4–7 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes pubescent.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet; similar to fertile lemma in texture; shiny; gaping. Lower glume lanceolate; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; much thinner on margins; 1-keeled; 1–3 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume surface smooth, or asperulous. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; 0.75 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; with hyaline margins; 1-keeled; 3–5 -veined. Upper glume surface smooth, or asperulous. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 4–7 mm long; membranous; shiny; keeled. Lemma apex acuminate; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn subapical; 0.5–1 mm long overall. Palea gaping. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; membranous. Anthers 3. Ovary glabrous.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Europe: central, southwestern, and southeastern.

NOTES Aveneae. Domin 1995.

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