Piptatherum virescens

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms 50–70 cm long; 3–4 -noded. Leaf-sheaths smooth; outer margin hairy. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.2–0.3 mm long; brown; lacerate. Leaf-blades 25 cm long; 7 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; 8–20 cm long. Primary panicle branches ascending; 1–3 -nate. Panicle branches scaberulous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate, or ovate; dorsally compressed; 3–4.5 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; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; much thinner on margins; mid-green; without keels; 5 -veined. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume elliptic; 3–4.5 mm long; 2 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; with hyaline margins; mid-green; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma obovate; dorsally compressed; 3.3–3.8 mm long; coriaceous; shiny; without keel. Lemma surface pilose. Lemma margins involute; exposing palea. Lemma apex dentate; 2 -fid; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn curved; 10–13 mm long overall; persistent. Palea coriaceous; 2 -veined; without keels.

FLOWER Lodicules 3; 0.7–0.9 mm long. Anthers 3; 2.5–3.2 mm long; anther tip penicillate.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; obovoid; 2.2–2.5 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION Europe: central, southwestern, southeastern, and eastern. Asia-temperate: Caucasus and western Asia.

NOTES Stipeae. Fl Turk 1993.

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