Parapholis pycnantha

HABIT Annual; caespitose. Culms erect; 15–35 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades flat; 1–2 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface ribbed; scaberulous; rough adaxially. Leaf-blade margins scaberulous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes; subtended by an inflated leaf-sheath; embraced at base by subtending leaf.

Racemes 1; single; ragged, or smoothly terete; bilateral; 8–20 cm long; bearing 15–30 fertile spikelets on each. Rhachis fragile at the nodes; subcylindrical and excavated. Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis; lax. Rhachis internodes oblong; 0.5 length of fertile spikelet. Rhachis internode tip transverse.

Spikelets sunken; solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 6–9 mm long; falling entire; deciduous with accessory branch structures.

GLUMES Glumes collateral; similar; exceeding apex of florets; firmer than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 6–9 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; coriaceous; without keels; 3–5 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins ribbed. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; 6–9 mm long; 1.1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; coriaceous; without keels; 3–5 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins ribbed. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 5.5–8.5 mm long; membranous; without keel; 3 -veined. Lemma apex acute. Palea 1 length of lemma. Palea surface scaberulous.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 3.2–4 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; ellipsoid; 3 mm long. Hilum elliptic. Endosperm liquid.

DISTRIBUTION Europe: southwestern and southeastern. Asia-temperate: western Asia.

NOTES Hainardieae. Runemark.

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