Milium vernale

HABIT Annual; culms solitary. Culms erect; 20–45 cm long. Leaf-sheaths scaberulous. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 5–7 mm long. Leaf-blades linear, or lanceolate; 4–7 cm long; 2–3 mm wide; light green. Leaf-blade surface scaberulous. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; dense; 4–11 cm long; 2–6 cm wide; contracted about secondary branches. Primary panicle branches ascending; 4–7.5 cm long. Panicle branches bearing congested spikelets.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels linear; 1–3 mm long.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; dorsally compressed; 2.5–3 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume elliptic; 2.5–3 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; much thinner above; without keels; 3 -veined. Lower glume surface asperulous. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume elliptic; 2.4–3 mm long; 1.2 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; much thinner above; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume surface asperulous. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic; dorsally compressed; 2–2.5 mm long; indurate; shiny; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea 1 length of lemma; indurate; 2 -veined; without keels. Palea apex obtuse.

FLOWER Lodicules 2. Anthers 3.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; ellipsoid; dorsally compressed. Embryo 0.2 length of caryopsis. Hilum punctiform.

DISTRIBUTION Europe: central, southwestern, southeastern, and eastern. Africa: north. Asia-temperate: Soviet Middle Asia, Caucasus, and western Asia.

NOTES Aveneae. Fl Iraq.

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