Koeleria nitidula

HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped loosely. Rhizomes short. Butt sheaths pubescent. Culms erect; 15–70 cm long; 2 -noded. Lateral branches lacking. Leaves mostly basal. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades convolute; 5–13 cm long; 1–1.5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scaberulous; rough on both sides. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle. Peduncle glabrous, or pubescent above.

Panicle spiciform; oblong, or ovate; continuous, or interrupted; 2.5–10 cm long; 0.7–1.5 cm wide. Primary panicle branches 2–4 cm long. Panicle axis pubescent. Panicle branches pubescent.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels pubescent.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2–3 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 4.1–5.2 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; 3.3–4.2 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; much thinner on margins; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 3.8–4.7 mm long; 1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; with hyaline margins; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 3.5–4.4 mm long; membranous; much thinner on margins; shiny; keeled; 5 -veined. Lemma apex acute to setaceously attenuate. Palea gaping; 1 length of lemma. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; membranous. Anthers 3; 1.7–2 mm long. Ovary glabrous.

DISTRIBUTION Europe: southeastern. Asia-temperate: western Asia.

NOTES Aveneae. Fl Turk 1993.

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