Sphenopholis intermedia

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect; 30–120 cm long. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface to pubescent. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades 2–15 cm long; 2–6 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scaberulous; glabrous, or pilose; sparsely hairy.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; lanceolate, or ovate; dense, or loose; nodding; 10–20 cm long. Primary panicle branches ascending; bearing spikelets almost to the base.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2–3 fertile florets; with a barren rhachilla extension. Spikelets obovate; laterally compressed; 3–5 mm long; falling entire. Rhachilla internodes 0.6–1.2 mm long; pubescent.

GLUMES Glumes dissimilar; with lower narrower than upper; shorter than spikelet; gaping. Lower glume linear; 1–4 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume obovate; 1–4 mm long; membranous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic; 2.5–4.4 mm long; membranous; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma surface smooth. Lemma apex acute; muticous, or mucronate. Palea gaping. Rhachilla extension 0.75 length of fertile floret.

FLOWER Ovary glabrous.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION North America: Subarctic, western Canada, eastern Canada, northwest USA, north-central USA, northeast USA, southwest USA, south-central USA, and southeast USA.

NOTES Aveneae. Man US Grasses 2000.

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