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 subulatum

HABIT Annual; culms solitary, or caespitose. Culms geniculately ascending, or decumbent; 7–42 cm long; 1–6 -noded. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 2.5–5 mm long. Leaf-blades 1–15 cm long; 1–5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scaberulous; rough on both sides; glabrous, or pilose. Leaf-blade margins scaberulous. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle spiciform; linear; truncate or rounded at the ends, or tapering below; 1–12 cm long; 0.3–0.9 cm wide. Primary panicle branches accrescent to a central axis; with evident branchlets on axis.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; with a barren rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; laterally compressed; truncate; (1.5–)2–4 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets. Lower glume elliptic; (1.5–)2–4 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; much thinner on margins; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Lower glume primary vein eciliate, or ciliate. Lower glume lateral veins ribbed. Lower glume surface scabrous. Lower glume apex truncate; mucronate. Upper glume elliptic; (1.5–)2–4 mm long; 2–3 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; with hyaline margins; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Upper glume primary vein eciliate, or ciliate. Upper glume lateral veins ribbed. Upper glume surface scabrous. Upper glume apex truncate; mucronate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 1.5 mm long; membranous; without keel; 5–7 -veined. Lemma surface pubescent; with clavate hairs. Lemma apex truncate. Palea 1 length of lemma. Palea surface pubescent; hairy on back; with turgid hairs.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; membranous. Anthers 3; 1.3–2 mm long. Ovary glabrous.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; dorsally compressed. Hilum punctiform.

DISTRIBUTION Europe: central, southwestern, southeastern, and eastern. Africa: north. Asia-temperate: western Asia. Australasia: Australia.

NOTES Aveneae. Fl Turk.

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