Nephelochloa orientalis

HABIT Annual. Culms erect; 13–25 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane; lacerate. Leaf-blades involute; 20–65 cm long; 0.3–1 mm wide. Leaf-blade margins scaberulous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; obovate; 5–13 cm long; 1.5–9 cm wide. Primary panicle branches whorled at most nodes; 1.5–5 cm long; sterile at lowest node.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 3–6 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 2–4.5(–5.5) mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes eventually visible between lemmas; pubescent. Floret callus pubescent.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 1–1.6 mm long; 1.1 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 0.9–1.5 mm long; 0.75 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic; lanceolate in profile; 1.5–2 mm long; membranous; much thinner above; mid-green, or purple; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma apex lobed; 2 -fid; with triangular lobes; incised 0.2 of lemma length; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn from a sinus; 1.2–1.7 mm long overall. Palea 0.66 length of lemma. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Anthers 2. Ovary glabrous.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: western Asia.

NOTES Poeae. Fl Turk.

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