Micropyrum patens

HABIT Annual; culms solitary. Culms erect; 50–100 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.2–0.8 mm long. Leaf-blades 4–16 cm long; 0.5–2.5 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 1; single; bilateral; 6–20 cm long. Rhachis flattened. Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis; lax.

Spikelets appressed; solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels oblong.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 10–16 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; (9–)11–15(–20) mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes definite; 1–1.6 mm long; eventually visible between lemmas.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume oblong; 2.5–4 mm long; 0.7–0.8 length of upper glume; coriaceous; without keels; (1–)3 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins ribbed. Lower glume apex obtuse, or acute. Upper glume oblong; 3.5–5 mm long; 0.7–0.8 length of adjacent fertile lemma; coriaceous; without keels; 3(–5) -veined. Upper glume lateral veins ribbed. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic; 5–6 mm long; coriaceous; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma surface scaberulous; rough on veins. Lemma apex obtuse; muticous. Palea 1 length of lemma; 2 -veined. Palea keels scabrous. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 2.5–3 mm long. Ovary glabrous.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; ellipsoid; 2.5–3 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION Europe: southwestern.

NOTES Poeae. Gram Extremad.

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