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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.
Phleum pratense
HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Butt sheaths dark brown. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending; 40–150 cm long; 3–6 -noded; not swollen at the base, or swollen at the base. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1–6 mm long. Leaf-blades 4–20 cm long; 3–9 mm wide. Leaf-blade margins scaberulous.
INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.
Panicle spiciform; linear; (2–)6–15(–30) cm long; 0.6–2 cm wide. Primary panicle branches accrescent to a central axis; with lateral stumps on axis. Panicle axis with rounded ribs.
Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels oblong.
FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; truncate; 3–3.8 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.
GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets. Lower glume oblong; 3–3.8 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Lower glume primary vein pectinately ciliate. Lower glume margins ciliolate. Lower glume apex truncate; awned; 1 -awned. Lower glume awn 1–2 mm long. Upper glume oblong; 3–3.8 mm long; 1.75–2 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Upper glume primary vein pectinately ciliate. Upper glume apex truncate; awned; 1 -awned. Upper glume awn 1–2 mm long.
FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 1.4–2.1 mm long; membranous; without keel; 5–7 -veined. Lemma surface puberulous. Lemma apex truncate. Palea 1 length of lemma.
FLOWER Lodicules 2; membranous. Anthers 3; 1.5–2 mm long. Ovary glabrous.
FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Hilum punctiform.
DISTRIBUTION Europe: northern, central, southwestern, southeastern, and eastern. Africa: north and Macaronesia. Asia-temperate: Siberia, Soviet far east, Soviet Middle Asia, Caucasus, western Asia, China, and eastern Asia. Asia-tropical: India. Australasia: Australia and New Zealand. Pacific: north-central. North America: Subarctic, northwest USA, north-central USA, northeast USA, southwest USA, south-central USA, southeast USA, and Mexico. South America: Caribbean, western South America, and southern South America. Antarctic: Subantarctic islands.
NOTES Aveneae. CEH.
Please cite this publication as detailed in How to Cite Version: 3rd February 2016.
