GrassBase - The Online World Grass Flora

Descriptions

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

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

Sesleria latifolia

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect; 20–40 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; 15–20 cm long; 3–4 mm wide; 4–6.5 cm long at summit of culm. Leaf-blade surface glabrous. Leaf-blade apex acute, or acuminate.

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

Panicle spiciform; linear; loose; 3–5 cm long; 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 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, or ovate; 5–6 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1–3 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent, or distinct. Lower glume surface puberulous; hairy on veins. Lower glume apex acuminate; awned; 1 -awned. Lower glume awn 1 mm long. Upper glume lanceolate, or ovate; 5–6 mm long; membranous; 1-keeled; 1–3 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent, or distinct. Upper glume surface puberulous; hairy on veins. Upper glume apex acuminate; awned; 1 -awned. Upper glume awn 1 mm long.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 5 mm long; membranous; without keel; 3–5 -veined. Lemma surface glabrous. Lemma apex dentate; 5 -fid; awned; 3–5 -awned. Principal lemma awn 1–2 mm long overall. Lateral lemma awns 0.3–0.7 mm long. Palea 5 mm long; 2 -veined. Palea keels ciliolate.

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

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Hilum elliptic.

DISTRIBUTION Europe: southeastern.

NOTES Poeae. Deyl 1994.

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