Parapholis gracilis

HABIT Perennial. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending; slender; 15–30 cm long. Culm-internodes smooth; distally glabrous. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades 0.3–6 cm long; 1–1.5 mm wide; flaccid. Leaf-blade surface scaberulous; rough on both sides. Leaf-blade margins scaberulous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 1; single; straight; smoothly terete; bilateral; 6–18 cm long. Rhachis fragile at the nodes; subcylindrical and excavated. Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis. Rhachis internodes oblong. Rhachis internode tip transverse.

Spikelets sunken; solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 4.5–5.5 mm long; falling entire; deciduous with accessory branch structures.

GLUMES Glumes collateral; similar; exceeding apex of florets; firmer than fertile lemma. Lower glume oblong; 4.5–5.5 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; coriaceous; without keels; 3 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins ribbed. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume oblong; 4.5–5.5 mm long; 1.1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; coriaceous; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins ribbed. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic, or oblong; 4–4.5 mm long; membranous; without keel; 3 -veined. Palea 1 length of lemma.

FLOWER Anthers 3.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: western Asia.

NOTES Hainardieae. Fl Iran 1999.

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