Milium transcaucasicum

HABIT Perennial. Rhizomes elongated. Butt sheaths persistent and investing base of culm; with compacted dead sheaths. Culms erect; 40–75 cm long; 2.5–3 mm diam.; 3–4 -noded. Culm-internodes scaberulous; distally glabrous. Leaf-sheaths smooth, or scaberulous. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1.3–1.6 mm long; entire, or lacerate; obtuse. Leaf-blades 6.5–9.5 cm long; 2.5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scabrous; rough on both sides. Leaf-blade margins scabrous. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle. Peduncle antrorsely scabrous above.

Panicle contracted; linear; continuous, or interrupted; 6–12 cm long; 0.8–1.5 cm wide. Primary panicle branches 1–5 -nate; 2.5–3 cm long. Panicle branches scabrous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels filiform.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets ovate; dorsally compressed; 2–3.4 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume oblong, or ovate; 2–3.4 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Lower glume surface asperulous. Lower glume apex obtuse. Upper glume oblong, or ovate; 2–3.4 mm long; 1.1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume surface asperulous. Upper glume apex obtuse.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; dorsally compressed; 1.9–3.2 mm long; indurate; shiny; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma surface smooth. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea 1 length of lemma; indurate; 2 -veined; without keels. Palea apex obtuse.

FLOWER Lodicules 2. Anthers 3; 2 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Hilum elliptic.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: Caucasus.

NOTES Aveneae. Tsvelev 1996.

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