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Descriptions

W.D. Clayton, M. Vorontsova, K.T. Harman & H. Williamson

© Copyright The Board of Trustees, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Metcalfia compacta

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Butt sheaths persistent and investing base of culm; with compacted dead sheaths. Basal innovations intravaginal. Culms erect; 10–30 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.7–2.5 mm long. Leaf-blades filiform; convolute; 5–10 cm long; 0.4–0.6 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scabrous; rough adaxially.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle, or composed of racemes (when impoverished); comprising 2–5(–7) fertile spikelets.

Panicle contracted; oblong; 2.5–6 cm long.

Racemes 1; single; paucilateral.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels oblong; 1–3.5 mm long; scaberulous.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 5–9 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 14–25 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes pilose; hairy above; with 0.7–1.5 mm long hairs. Floret callus evident; pilose. Floret callus hairs 0.1 length of lemma.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; reaching apex of florets; shiny. Lower glume lanceolate; 10–15 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 5–7 -veined. Lower glume apex attenuate. Upper glume lanceolate; 10–15 mm long; 1.1–1.3 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 5–7 -veined. Upper glume apex attenuate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; 8–13 mm long; cartilaginous; shiny; without keel; 7 -veined. Lemma surface scaberulous; pubescent; hairy below. Lemma apex lobed; 2 -fid; with lanceolate lobes; incised 0.25 of lemma length; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn from a sinus; geniculate; 15–25 mm long overall; with twisted column. Palea lanceolate; 0.75 length of lemma. Palea keels winged; scaberulous. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 3. Anthers 3; 4–6 mm long. Stigmas 2–3. Styles free to the base. Ovary pubescent all over.

FRUIT Hilum linear.

DISTRIBUTION Europe: southeastern. Asia-temperate: Caucasus.

NOTES Duthieeae. Zlaki.

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