Rostraria salzmannii

HABIT Annual. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending; 5–30 cm long. Leaf-sheaths pilose. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.5–1 mm long. Leaf-blades 2–10 cm long; 1–7 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface pilose.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle spiciform; linear, or lanceolate; continuous, or interrupted; 2–8 cm long; 0.7–2 cm wide. Panicle axis pubescent. Panicle branches pubescent.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels oblong.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2–5 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 4–6 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes pubescent. Floret callus pubescent.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; similar to fertile lemma in texture; gaping. Lower glume elliptic; 4–6 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Lower glume primary vein pectinately ciliate. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume surface pilose. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume elliptic; 4–6 mm long; 1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Upper glume primary vein ciliolate. Upper glume surface pilose. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic; 4–6 mm long; membranous; much thinner on margins; keeled; 5 -veined. Lemma surface glabrous. Lemma apex acute; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn subapical; 1.7–2.5 mm long overall. Palea gaping; 0.8 length of lemma; hyaline. Palea keels scaberulous. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Anthers 3. Ovary glabrous.

DISTRIBUTION Europe: southwestern. Africa: north.

NOTES Aveneae. Fl Eur 1993.

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