Periballia minuta

HABIT Annual. Culms erect, or decumbent; 3–20 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 2–2.5 mm long. Leaf-blades 1–4 cm long; 1–2 mm wide. Leaf-blade margins scabrous. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; 1.5–4 cm long; 1.2–4 cm wide. Primary panicle branches 1.5–3 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels filiform; 2–7.5 mm long; glabrous; tip pyriform.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; laterally compressed; 1.5–2 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes definite; 0.7 mm long.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet; shiny. Lower glume lanceolate; 1.3–1.6 mm long; 0.9 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex obtuse, or acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 1.5–1.7 mm long; 0.9–1.1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex obtuse, or acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 1.3–1.8 mm long; membranous; without keel; 5–7 -veined. Lemma surface pubescent; hairy below. Lemma apex obtuse.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 0.1–0.3 mm long.

FRUIT Endosperm farinose.

DISTRIBUTION Europe: southwestern and southeastern. Africa: north and south. Asia-temperate: western Asia. Australasia: Australia.

NOTES Aveneae. Fl Turk.

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