Koeleria micrathera

HABIT Perennial. Rhizomes elongated. Culms geniculately ascending, or decumbent; 4–35 cm long; 2–3 -noded. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface, or pubescent. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.2–0.5 mm long. Leaf-blades flat, or conduplicate; 1–10 cm long; 0.5–2 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle spiciform; linear; interrupted; nodding; 1–10 cm long. Panicle branches pubescent.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels linear; scaberulous.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2–4 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets elliptic; laterally compressed; 2.75–5.5 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes pilose. Floret callus pubescent.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet; similar to fertile lemma in texture; shiny; gaping. Lower glume lanceolate; 1–3 mm long; 0.33–0.5 length of upper glume; hyaline; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume primary vein scaberulous. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume elliptic; 2–4.5 mm long; 0.66–1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; hyaline; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Upper glume primary vein scaberulous. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; 3–4.5 mm long; chartaceous; much thinner on margins; shiny; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma surface smooth, or scaberulous. Lemma apex obtuse, or acute; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn subapical; 0.5–3 mm long overall. Palea gaping; 0.5–0.75 length of lemma; hyaline. Palea keels scabrous. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; oblong; membranous. Anthers 3; 0.2–0.3 mm long. Ovary glabrous.

DISTRIBUTION South America: southern South America.

NOTES Aveneae. WDC.

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