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Descriptions

W.D. Clayton, M. Vorontsova, K.T. Harman & H. Williamson

© Copyright The Board of Trustees, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Sesleria autumnalis

HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped loosely. Stolons present. Culms erect; 25–40 cm long. Lateral branches lacking. Leaf-sheaths tubular for much of their length; glabrous on surface. Ligule a ciliolate membrane; 0.2–0.4 mm long. Leaf-blades flat; 25–35 cm long; 2–4 mm wide; 4–8 cm long at summit of culm; glaucous. Leaf-blade surface scabrous. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle. Peduncle tipped by a glumaceous appendage (treated as sterile spikelets).

Panicle spiciform; linear; loose; 4–9 cm long; 0.5–0.7 cm wide. Primary panicle branches accrescent to a central axis.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

STERILE SPIKELETS Basal sterile spikelets represented by a single scale; 2 in number. Basal sterile spikelet glumes membranous.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2–3 fertile florets; with a barren rhachilla extension. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 5.5–6.5 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 5–6 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1–3 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent, or distinct. Lower glume apex acuminate; awned; 1 -awned. Lower glume awn 1–2 mm long. Upper glume lanceolate; 5–6 mm long; membranous; 1-keeled; 1–3 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent, or distinct. Upper glume apex acuminate; awned; 1 -awned. Upper glume awn 1–2 mm long.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; 3–4.5 mm long; membranous; without keel; 3–5 -veined. Lemma surface pilose; hairy at base. Lemma apex dentate; 3–5 -fid; awned; 1–3 -awned. Principal lemma awn 0.5–1.5 mm long overall. Lateral lemma awns 0.3–0.5 mm long. Palea 4–5 mm long; 2 -veined. Palea keels ciliolate. Palea apex with excurrent keel veins.

FLOWER Anthers 3. Stigmas 2; terminally exserted; pubescent.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Hilum elliptic.

DISTRIBUTION Europe: southeastern. Asia-temperate: Caucasus.

NOTES Poeae. Deyl 1994.

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