Micropyrum tenellum

HABIT Annual. Culms erect; 20–60 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.5–1 mm long. Leaf-blades 1–6 cm long; 0.5–1 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

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

Spikelets appressed; solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels oblong; 0.5–1.5 mm long.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 3–9(–14) fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; (3–)4–9(–14) mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes definite; eventually visible between lemmas.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume oblong; 2–5 mm long; 0.8–1 length of upper glume; coriaceous; without keels; (1–)3 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins ribbed. Lower glume apex obtuse, or acute. Upper glume oblong; 2.4–6 mm long; 1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; coriaceous; without keels; 3(–5) -veined. Upper glume lateral veins ribbed. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic; 2.7–5 mm long; coriaceous; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma apex obtuse; muticous, or awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn 0–5 mm long overall. Palea 1 length of lemma; 2 -veined. Palea keels scabrous. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 0.5–1.3 mm long. Ovary glabrous.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; ellipsoid; 2.5–3.2 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION Europe: central, southwestern, and southeastern. Africa: north and Macaronesia. Asia-temperate: western Asia.

NOTES Poeae. WDC.

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