Trisetum ciliare

HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped loosely. Butt sheaths pubescent. Culms 25–70 cm long. Culm-internodes distally glabrous. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades 7–15 cm long; 3–5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface pubescent. Leaf-blade margins ciliate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; elliptic; 5–13 cm long; 1–4 cm wide. Panicle branches scabrous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2–3 fertile florets; with a barren rhachilla extension. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 4.4–7.5 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes pilose; with 1.3 mm long hairs. Floret callus pubescent.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma; shiny; gaping. Lower glume lanceolate; 0.75 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume primary vein scabrous. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 0.9 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Upper glume primary vein scabrous. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 4.2–5 mm long; membranous; shiny; keeled; 5 -veined. Lemma midvein ciliate. Lemma apex dentate; 2 -fid; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn dorsal; arising 0.66 way up back of lemma; curved; 4–7 mm long overall; limb puberulous; with 0.1–0.3 mm long hairs; glabrescent towards tip. Palea gaping; hyaline.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 2–2.5 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Hilum punctiform.

DISTRIBUTION Europe: central, southeastern, and eastern.

NOTES Aveneae. Fl Eur 1995.

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