Micropyropsis tuberosa

HABIT Perennial. Culms 30–100 cm long; swollen at the base; forming an ovoid corm, or moniliform corms. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades 10–25 cm long; 2–3 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 1; single; bilateral; 10–30 cm long; bearing 6–17 fertile spikelets on each. Rhachis semiterete. Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis; distant.

Spikelets appressed; solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels oblong; 0.5 mm long.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 3–13 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 10–26 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes 1.5–2 mm long; eventually visible between lemmas.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume elliptic; 3.5–5 mm long; 0.7 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume elliptic; 5–7 mm long; 1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic; 5–7 mm long; chartaceous; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma apex acute; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn subapical; 2–6 mm long overall. Palea 1 length of lemma; 2 -veined. Palea keels ciliolate. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 3 mm long. Ovary glabrous.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; ellipsoid; 4 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION Europe: southwestern.

NOTES Poeae. WDC.

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