Koeleria rhodopea

HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped loosely. Rhizomes short. Butt sheaths sparsely hairy; persistent and investing base of culm; with compacted dead sheaths. Basal innovations extravaginal. Culms erect; 30–65 cm long; 1 mm diam. Lateral branches lacking. Leaves mostly basal. Leaf-sheaths 6–21 cm long; puberulous. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.5 mm long; obtuse. Leaf-blades 15–30 cm long; 1–2.5 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle contracted, or spiciform; linear; interrupted; 6–13 cm long; 1–1.5 cm wide. Panicle axis pubescent. Panicle branches pubescent.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2–3 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 6.5 mm long; 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; 4 mm long; membranous; much thinner on margins; 1-keeled. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 5 mm long; 0.75 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; with hyaline margins; 1-keeled. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 6.5 mm long; membranous; much thinner on margins; shiny; keeled; 5 -veined. Lemma surface puberulous. Lemma apex acute. Palea gaping; 5.7 mm long; 1 length of lemma. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Anthers 3.

DISTRIBUTION Europe: southeastern.

NOTES Aveneae. Ujhelyi 2003.

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