Koeleria luerssenii

HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped loosely. Rhizomes short. Culms erect; 25–90 cm long. Leaves mostly basal. Leaf-sheaths smooth; glabrous on surface, or puberulous. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades flat, or convolute; 20 cm long; 0.5–1.7 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface smooth; glabrous. Leaf-blade margins glabrous, or ciliate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle. Peduncle pubescent above.

Panicle spiciform; linear; interrupted; loose; 7–8 cm long; 0.6–0.7 cm wide. Panicle axis pubescent. Panicle branches pubescent.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2 fertile florets; with a barren rhachilla extension. Spikelets obovate; laterally compressed; 4.1–7 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; 0.7–0.8 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume primary vein scabrous. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume oblong; 1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Upper glume primary vein scabrous. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 6 mm long; membranous; shiny; keeled. Lemma apex acuminate. Palea gaping.

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

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: Caucasus.

NOTES Aveneae. Domin 1995.

ADDITIONAL CHARACTERS Peduncle pubescent for 0.5–1cm.

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