Rostraria litorea

HABIT Annual. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending; 5–60 cm long. Culm-internodes distally glabrous, or pubescent. Leaf-sheaths pilose. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1–2 mm long; pilose on abaxial surface; truncate, or obtuse. Leaf-blades 2–7 cm long; 3–8 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface pubescent; hairy on both sides. Leaf-blade apex attenuate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle spiciform; linear, or oblong; 1–12 cm long; 0.5 cm wide. Panicle axis pubescent. Panicle branches pubescent.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels oblong.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1–2 fertile florets; with a barren rhachilla extension. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 3.5–6 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes glabrous. Floret callus glabrous.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet; similar to fertile lemma in texture; parallel to lemmas. Lower glume elliptic; 3.5–6 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Lower glume primary vein pectinately ciliate. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume surface villous. Lower glume apex obtuse to acuminate. Upper glume elliptic; 3.5–6 mm long; 1.1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Upper glume primary vein pectinately ciliate. Upper glume surface villous. Upper glume apex obtuse to acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic; 3–5.5 mm long; membranous; much thinner on margins; keeled; 5 -veined. Lemma midvein scaberulous. Lemma surface smooth, or punctate; glabrous. Lemma apex dentate; 2 -fid; acute; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn from a sinus; 0.5–1 mm long overall. Palea gaping; hyaline. Palea keels scaberulous. Rhachilla extension glabrous.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 1.5–2 mm long. Ovary glabrous.

DISTRIBUTION Europe: southwestern and southeastern. Africa: north.

NOTES Aveneae. Fl Afr N 1993.

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