Lycochloa avenacea

HABIT Perennial. Culms 30–50 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 4–5 mm long; truncate. Leaf-blades 10–30 cm long; 2–5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface pilose; hairy adaxially.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 1; single; unilateral; 5–15 cm long; bearing few fertile spikelets; bearing 3–8 fertile spikelets on each. Spikelet packing distant.

Spikelets deflexed; solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels cuneate; 1–2 mm long; pubescent.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets cuneate; laterally compressed; 15–20 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating above glumes but not between florets. Rhachilla internodes pilose; hairy at tip. Floret callus pilose.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma; gaping. Lower glume lanceolate; 0.66–0.75 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 5 -veined. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; 13–16 mm long; 0.9–1.1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 5 -veined. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic; 12–15 mm long; chartaceous; keeled; 11 -veined. Lemma lateral veins ribbed. Lemma apex dentate; 2 -fid; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn dorsal; arising 0.6–0.7 way up back of lemma; curved; 15–25 mm long overall. Palea 2 -veined. Palea keels winged; narrowly winged; ciliolate. Apical sterile florets 1–3 in number; barren; in a clump; lanceolate; 8–9 mm long. Apical sterile lemmas awned.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; united; fleshy; truncate. Anthers 3; 5 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: western Asia.

NOTES Meliceae. WDC.

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