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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 ovata

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect; 3–10(–20) cm long. Leaf-sheaths open for most of their length; smooth; glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1–1.8 mm long. Leaf-blades flat, or convolute; 2–9 cm long; 1–1.5 mm wide; flaccid. Leaf-blade surface glabrous, or pilose; sparsely hairy; hairy adaxially.

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

Panicle capitate; globose; 0.6–1 cm long; 0.4–0.6 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 sessile.

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 2–3 fertile florets; with a barren rhachilla extension. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 2.5 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume ovate; 2 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume margins ciliate. Lower glume apex acute; awned; 1 -awned. Lower glume awn 1–2 mm long. Upper glume ovate; 2 mm long; 1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume margins ciliate. Upper glume apex acute; awned; 1 -awned. Upper glume awn 1–2 mm long.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 2 mm long; membranous; glaucous; without keel; 3–5 -veined. Lemma surface glabrous, or pilose. Lemma margins eciliate, or ciliate. Lemma apex dentate; 5 -fid; awned; 5 -awned. Principal lemma awn 1.8–2.5 mm long overall. Lateral lemma awns 1 mm long. Palea 1.1 length of lemma; 2 -veined. Palea keels ciliolate. Palea apex awned; awns 1–1.5 mm long.

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

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; obovoid; 1–1.5 mm long; hairy at apex. Hilum elliptic.

DISTRIBUTION Europe: central, southwestern, and southeastern.

NOTES Poeae. Deyl 1994.

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