Trisetum aeneum

HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped loosely. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending; 45–65 cm long; 2–5 -noded. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades 7–20 cm long; 3–9 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous, or pilose; sparsely hairy. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle. Peduncle glabrous.

Panicle contracted, or spiciform; lanceolate, or oblong; 5–15 cm long; 1.5–2.5 cm wide. Panicle axis glabrous. Panicle branches scabrous; glabrous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2–3 fertile florets; with a barren rhachilla extension. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 5.5–8.5 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes pubescent. Floret callus pubescent.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma; shiny; gaping. Lower glume lanceolate; 3.5–5.5 mm long; 0.75 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume elliptic; 4.5–6.5 mm long; 0.9–1.2 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic; 5–5.5 mm long; membranous; much thinner above; much thinner on margins; shiny; keeled; 5 -veined. Lemma midvein scabrous. Lemma surface scaberulous; rough below. Lemma apex dentate; 2 -fid; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn dorsal; curved; 6–9.5 mm long overall. Palea gaping; hyaline. Palea keels scaberulous.

FLOWER Anthers 3. Ovary glabrous.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Hilum punctiform.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-tropical: India.

NOTES Aveneae. Fl Pak 1993.

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