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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 canariensis
HABIT Annual; caespitose. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending; 20–120 cm long. Leaves cauline. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 3–8 mm long. Leaf-blades 5–25 cm long; 4–12 mm wide.
INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.
Panicle spiciform, or capitate; ovate; 1.5–6 cm long; 1.2–2.2 cm wide.
Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.
FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets obovate; laterally compressed; compressed strongly; 6–10 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; 6–10 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; chartaceous; 1-keeled; winged on keel; winged above; 3–5 -veined. Lower glume surface asperulous; pubescent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume elliptic; 6–10 mm long; 1.3–1.6 length of adjacent fertile lemma; chartaceous; 1-keeled; winged on keel; winged above; 3–5 -veined. Upper glume surface asperulous; pubescent. 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 lanceolate; 3–4.5 mm long; 0.5–0.75 length of fertile lemma; membranous; glabrous; acute. Fertile lemma elliptic; laterally compressed; 5–6 mm long; cartilaginous; 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; 3–4 mm long. Ovary glabrous.
FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Hilum linear.
DISTRIBUTION Europe: northern, central, southwestern, southeastern, and eastern. Africa: north, Macaronesia, south, and western Indian ocean. Asia-temperate: Siberia, Soviet far east, Caucasus, western Asia, Arabia, China, and eastern Asia. Asia-tropical: India, Indo-China, and Papuasia. Australasia: Australia and New Zealand. Pacific: north-central. 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: Mesoamericana, Caribbean, western South America, Brazil, and southern South America.
NOTES Aveneae. CEH.
Please cite this publication as detailed in How to Cite Version: 3rd February 2016.
