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GrassBase - The Online World Grass Flora
Descriptions
W.D. Clayton, M. Vorontsova, K.T. Harman & H. Williamson
© Copyright The Board of Trustees, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
Phalaris aquatica
HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Rhizomes short. Culms 100–150 cm long; not swollen at the base, or swollen at the base; forming an ovoid corm. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades 10–30 cm long; 3–8 mm wide.
INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.
Panicle spiciform; oblong; 1.5–11 cm long; 1–2.5 cm wide.
Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.
FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets obovate; laterally compressed; compressed strongly; 4.5–7.5 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; 4.5–7.5 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; chartaceous; 1-keeled; winged on keel; winged above; 3 -veined. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume elliptic; 4.5–7.5 mm long; 1.5–1.7 length of adjacent fertile lemma; chartaceous; 1-keeled; winged on keel; winged above; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.
FLORETS Basal sterile florets dissimilar; developed, or with vestigial lower floret; barren; without significant palea; attached to and deciduous with the fertile. Lemma of lower sterile floret subulate; 0–0.5 mm long. Lemma of upper sterile floret subulate; 0.2–2.2 mm long; pubescent. Fertile lemma elliptic; laterally compressed; 3–4.5 mm long; cartilaginous; shiny; keeled; 5 -veined. Lemma surface pubescent. Lemma apex acute. Palea cartilaginous; 2 -veined; without keels. Palea surface pubescent.
FLOWER Anthers 3. Ovary glabrous.
FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; 2.2–2.5 mm long. Hilum linear.
DISTRIBUTION Europe: southwestern and southeastern. Africa: north, Macaronesia, east tropical, and south. Asia-temperate: Caucasus, western Asia, and China. Asia-tropical: India and Papuasia. Australasia: Australia and New Zealand. Pacific: northwestern and north-central. South America: northern South America, western South America, Brazil, and southern South America.
NOTES Aveneae. FTEA.
ADDITIONAL CHARACTERS Glume wings entire.
Please cite this publication as detailed in How to Cite Version: 3rd February 2016.
