Phalaris caroliniana

HABIT Annual; caespitose. Culms 50–100 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades 5–15 cm long; 3–8 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle spiciform; ovate; 1–7 cm long; 0.8–2 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; 4.2–5.6 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; 4.2–5.6 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; chartaceous; 1-keeled; winged on keel; winged narrowly; winged above; 3 -veined. Lower glume primary vein scaberulous. Lower glume surface smooth. Lower glume apex acute, or acuminate. Upper glume elliptic; 4.2–5.6 mm long; 1.2–1.4 length of adjacent fertile lemma; chartaceous; 1-keeled; winged on keel; winged above; 3–5 -veined. Upper glume primary vein scaberulous. Upper glume surface smooth. Upper glume apex acute, or acuminate.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets similar; barren; without significant palea; attached to and deciduous with the fertile. Lemma of lower sterile floret linear; 1.2–2.5 mm long; 0.33–0.5 length of fertile lemma; pubescent. Fertile lemma elliptic; laterally compressed; 3–4.7 mm long; cartilaginous; shiny; keeled; 5 -veined. Lemma surface pubescent; hairy all along. Lemma apex acute. Palea cartilaginous; 2 -veined; without keels. Palea surface pubescent; hairy on back.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; membranous. Anthers 3. Ovary glabrous.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; 2–2.3 mm long. Hilum linear.

DISTRIBUTION North America: northwest USA, southwest USA, south-central USA, southeast USA, and Mexico.

NOTES Aveneae. Anderson.

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