Oreochloa blanka

HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped densely. Rhizomes short. Culms 5–25 cm long. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.2–1 mm long. Leaf-blades filiform; involute; 2–10 cm long; 0.5–1 mm wide; stiff. Leaf-blade venation with continuous uniform subepidermal sclerenchyma layer on the underside.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 1; single; oblong; unilateral; 1–1.5 cm long. Rhachis glabrous on surface. Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis; crowded; regular; 2 -rowed.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels oblong.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 3–7 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets ovate; laterally compressed; 5–7 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume ovate; 2.5–3.5 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; keeled above; 1–3 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent, or obscure. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 2.5–3.5 mm long; 0.7–0.9 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; keeled above; 1–3 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent, or obscure. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 3.5–4 mm long; membranous; much thinner on margins; keeled; 5 -veined. Lemma lateral veins obscure. Lemma surface pubescent; hairy below. Lemma hairs 0.4–0.8 mm long. Lemma apex acute; muticous, or mucronate. Palea keels ciliate. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FRUIT Hilum elliptic.

DISTRIBUTION Europe: southwestern.

NOTES Poeae. Fl Eur.

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