Rostraria obtusiflora

HABIT Annual. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending; 20–45 cm long. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface, or pilose. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades convolute; 7–15 cm long; 2–3 mm wide; glaucous. Leaf-blade surface glabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle spiciform; linear, or lanceolate; 3–7 cm long; 0.5–1 cm wide. Panicle branches scabrous; glabrous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels oblong.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 3–5 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 4–5 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating above glumes but not between florets.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; dissimilar; exceeding apex of florets; similar to fertile lemma in texture; shiny; gaping. Lower glume lanceolate; 2–2.5 mm long; 0.66 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume surface glabrous. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 3–3.5 mm long; 0.75 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 5 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins ribbed. Upper glume surface glabrous. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma obovate; 4 mm long; membranous; much thinner on margins; keeled; 5 -veined. Lemma lateral veins ribbed. Lemma surface glabrous. Lemma apex obtuse; muticous, or mucronate. Principal lemma awn subapical. Palea gaping; hyaline. Palea keels scaberulous. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Anthers 3. Ovary glabrous.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: Soviet Middle Asia and western Asia.

NOTES Aveneae. Fl Iran 1993.

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