Trisetum turcicum

HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped loosely. Basal innovations extravaginal. Culms geniculately ascending; 40–50 cm long; 2–5 -noded. Culm-nodes pubescent. Leaf-sheaths pubescent. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1.6–3 mm long; lacerate. Leaf-blades 7.5–13 cm long; 3–5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle contracted; linear; 5.2–8.6 cm long; 0.6–0.8 cm wide.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels 2.5–4.5 mm long; scabrous.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 3 fertile florets; with a barren rhachilla extension. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 5.4–8 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes 1.5–2 mm long; glabrous, or sparsely hairy. Floret callus pubescent.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet, or reaching apex of florets, or exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma; shiny; gaping. Lower glume lanceolate; 4.5–6 mm long; 0.7–0.9 length of upper glume; membranous; much thinner on margins; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume elliptic; 6.3–6.5 mm long; 1–1.2 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; with hyaline margins; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic; 5.3–6.5 mm long; membranous; much thinner above; much thinner on margins; shiny; keeled; 5 -veined. Lemma apex dentate; 2 -fid; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn dorsal; geniculate; 9.5–10 mm long overall; with twisted column. Palea gaping; 5–7 mm long; hyaline. Palea keels scaberulous.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 3–4.5 mm long. Ovary glabrous.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Hilum punctiform.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: Caucasus and western Asia.

NOTES Aveneae. Fl Turk 1993.

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