Piptatherum miliaceum

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending; 100–150 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades flat, or convolute; 15–30 cm long; 5–10 mm wide; coriaceous; stiff. Leaf-blade surface ribbed; scaberulous; rough adaxially. Leaf-blade margins scaberulous. Leaf-blade apex attenuate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; 20–40 cm long. Primary panicle branches 4–8 -nate; whorled at most nodes. Panicle branches scaberulous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; dorsally compressed; 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; 3 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume elliptic; 3 mm long; 1.2 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; dorsally compressed; 2.5 mm long; coriaceous; dark brown; shiny; without keel; 3 -veined. Lemma margins involute; exposing palea. Lemma apex obtuse; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn flexuous; 3–5 mm long overall; deciduous. Palea coriaceous; 2 -veined; without keels.

DISTRIBUTION Europe: southwestern and southeastern. Africa: north and Macaronesia. Asia-temperate: western Asia and Arabia. Australasia: Australia and New Zealand. Pacific: north-central. North America: northeast USA and southwest USA. South America: southern South America.

NOTES Stipeae. Fl Iran.

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