Sesleria leucocephala

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect; 4–15 cm long. Leaf-sheaths open for most of their length; glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1.5 mm long. Leaf-blades flat, or convolute; 1–10 cm long; 1–2 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous. Leaf-blade apex obtuse.

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

Panicle capitate; globose; 0.8–1.3 cm long; 0.8–1.2 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. Pedicels oblong.

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

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2–3 fertile florets; with a barren rhachilla extension. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 5–5.5 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume ovate; 4.5–5 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 4.5–5 mm long; 1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 4–4.5 mm long; membranous; without keel; 3–5 -veined. Lemma surface pilose; hairy below. Lemma apex entire; obtuse; muticous, or mucronate. Principal lemma awn 0.5–1 mm long overall. Palea 0.9 length of lemma; 2 -veined. Palea keels ciliolate.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 1.5–2 mm long. Stigmas 2; terminally exserted; pubescent. Ovary glabrous.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; fusiform; 1.8–2.1 mm long; glabrous. Hilum elliptic.

DISTRIBUTION Europe: central and southeastern.

NOTES Poeae. Deyl 1994.

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