Psilurus incurvus

HABIT Annual. Culms erect; 20–40 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.5–1 mm long. Leaf-blades filiform; convolute; 2–5 cm long; 2–3 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 1; single; flexuous; smoothly terete; unilateral; 3–25 cm long. Rhachis fragile at the nodes (tardily); subcylindrical and excavated; glabrous on surface, or pubescent on surface. Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis; distant.

Spikelets sunken; solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; with a barren rhachilla extension, or with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets linear; laterally compressed; 3.5–5 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes one the lower absent or obscure; lateral; persistent; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Upper glume ovate; 0.5–1.3 mm long; 0.1–0.25 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; 3.5–5 mm long; coriaceous; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma apex acuminate; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn 3–5 mm long overall. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Anthers 1; 0.3–0.9(–1.7) mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; lanceolate; 3–4.5 mm long. Hilum linear; 0.33–0.66 length of caryopsis.

DISTRIBUTION Europe: southwestern, southeastern, and eastern. Africa: north. Asia-temperate: Soviet Middle Asia, Caucasus, and western Asia. Asia-tropical: India. Australasia: Australia.

NOTES Poeae. Fl Turk.

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