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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 arundinacea
HABIT Perennial. Rhizomes elongated; scaly. Culms erect; 50–150 cm long. Leaves cauline. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 6–10 mm long. Leaf-blades 10–20 cm long; 5–15 mm wide.
INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.
Panicle contracted; linear; interrupted; 7–40 cm long; 1–4 cm wide. Primary panicle branches appressed; 1–5 cm long. Panicle branches scabrous.
Spikelets appressed; solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels linear; tip cupuliform.
FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets ovate; laterally compressed; compressed strongly; 3.5–7.5 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; 3.5–7.5 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; chartaceous; 1-keeled; wingless; 3 -veined. Lower glume surface asperulous. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume elliptic; 3.5–7.5 mm long; 1.3–1.6 length of adjacent fertile lemma; chartaceous; 1-keeled; wingless; 3 -veined. Upper glume surface asperulous. Upper glume apex acute.
FLORETS Basal sterile florets similar; barren; without significant palea; attached to and deciduous with the fertile. Lemma of lower sterile floret subulate; 1.2–2.3 mm long; 0.4–0.5 length of fertile lemma; membranous; pilose. Fertile lemma ovate; laterally compressed; 2.7–4.5 mm long; cartilaginous; yellow to dark brown; shiny; keeled; 5 -veined. Lemma surface pubescent. Lemma apex acute. Palea cartilaginous; 2 -veined; without keels. Palea surface pubescent; hairy on back.
FLOWER Lodicules 2; membranous. Anthers 3; 2.5–3 mm long. Ovary glabrous.
FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Hilum linear.
DISTRIBUTION Europe: northern, central, southwestern, southeastern, and eastern. Africa: north, west-central tropical, northeast tropical, east tropical, south, and western Indian ocean. Asia-temperate: Siberia, Soviet far east, Soviet Middle Asia, Caucasus, western Asia, China, Mongolia, and eastern Asia. Asia-tropical: India and Malesia. Australasia: Australia and New Zealand. North America: Subarctic, western Canada, eastern Canada, northwest USA, north-central USA, northeast USA, southwest USA, south-central USA, southeast USA, and Mexico. South America: Brazil and southern South America.
NOTES Aveneae. CEH.
Please cite this publication as detailed in How to Cite Version: 3rd February 2016.
