Koeleria heribaudii

HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped loosely. Rhizomes short. Basal innovations extravaginal. Culms erect; 35–72 cm long; 1.5–2 mm diam. Lateral branches lacking. Leaves mostly basal. Leaf-sheaths 4–13 cm long; puberulous; outer margin hairy. Leaf-sheath oral hairs ciliate. Leaf-sheath auricles absent. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1.5 mm long; entire, or erose; obtuse. Leaf-blades convolute; 4.5–16 cm long; 1–2.5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous, or pilose. Leaf-blade margins scaberulous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle contracted, or spiciform; linear; interrupted; 5–8.5 cm long; 1–1.2 cm wide. Panicle axis pubescent. Panicle branches pubescent.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 5–7 mm long; 2.5 mm wide; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet; similar to fertile lemma in texture; shiny; gaping. Lower glume lanceolate; 5.4 mm long; membranous; much thinner on margins; 1-keeled. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 6 mm long; 1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; with hyaline margins; 1-keeled. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 6 mm long; membranous; much thinner on margins; shiny; keeled; 5 -veined. Lemma surface puberulous. Lemma apex acute. Palea gaping; 5 mm long; 1 length of lemma. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 2.5 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION Europe: southwestern.

NOTES Aveneae. Ujhelyi 2003.

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