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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 comosa

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect; 20–50 cm long; 1 mm diam. Lateral branches lacking. Leaf-sheaths tubular for much of their length; glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.2–0.4 mm long. Leaf-blades conduplicate, or convolute; 10–20 cm long; 2–3 mm wide; 1.5–4 cm long at summit of culm. Leaf-blade surface glabrous. Leaf-blade apex acute.

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

Panicle capitate; ovate, or globose; 0.7–1.7 cm long; 0.7–1.2 cm wide. Primary panicle branches accrescent to a central axis; with evident branchlets on axis, or with lateral stumps on axis.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

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

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2 fertile florets; with a barren rhachilla extension. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 3–4 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

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

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 3 mm long; membranous; without keel; 3–5 -veined. Lemma surface pilose. Lemma hairs 0.2–0.5 mm long. Lemma apex dentate; 5 -fid; awned; 5 -awned. Principal lemma awn 3–4.5 mm long overall. Lateral lemma awns 2–3 mm long. Palea 1 length of lemma; 2 -veined. Palea keels ciliolate. Palea surface pilose. Palea apex awned; awns 2–3 mm long.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 1.5–2.5 mm long. Stigmas 2; terminally exserted; pubescent. Ovary pubescent on apex.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; ovoid; hairy at apex. Hilum elliptic.

DISTRIBUTION Europe: southeastern.

NOTES Poeae. Deyl 1994.

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