Koeleria thonii

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Butt sheaths yellow. Culms erect; 30–60 cm long. Leaf-sheaths antrorsely scabrous. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades convolute; 8–10 cm long; 2–3 mm wide; stiff; glaucous. Leaf-blade surface scabrous; glabrous.

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

Panicle spiciform; linear; interrupted; 10–14 cm long; 2 cm wide. Panicle axis pubescent. Panicle branches pubescent.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 3–4 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets obovate; laterally compressed; 6–8 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 lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume oblong; 0.75 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic; 6–7 mm long; membranous; shiny; keeled. Lemma apex acuminate; muticous, or mucronate. Palea gaping. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

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

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: Siberia and Mongolia.

NOTES Aveneae. Domin 1995.

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