Ventenata blanchei

HABIT Annual; caespitose. Culms 15–40 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades 3–5 cm long; 1–3 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface pubescent.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle; embraced at base by subtending leaf.

Panicle open; elliptic, or oblong; 5–18 cm long. Primary panicle branches appressed. Panicle branches scabrous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels cuneate; scabrous.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2–4 fertile florets; with a barren rhachilla extension. Spikelets cuneate; laterally compressed; 7–10 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating between fertile florets but the lowest falling with glumes attached. Floret callus evident; 0.5 mm long; pubescent.

GLUMES Glumes deciduous with pedicel attached; similar; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma; shiny. Lower glume lanceolate; 3.5–5 mm long; 0.5 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume primary vein scaberulous. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 7–10 mm long; 1.4–1.8 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Upper glume primary vein scaberulous. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile florets with the lowest dissimilar. Lowest fertile lemma elliptic; 1 length of adjacent lemma; thinner than adjacent lemma; muticous. Fertile lemma elliptic; 4–7 mm long; chartaceous; shiny; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma surface scaberulous; rough above. Lemma apex lobed; 2 -fid; incised 0.1 of lemma length; awned; 3 -awned. Principal lemma awn dorsal; arising 0.5–0.7 way up back of lemma; geniculate; 10–15 mm long overall; with twisted column. Lateral lemma awns arising on apex of lobes; 1 mm long; shorter than principal. Palea 0.6–0.7 length of lemma. Palea keels ciliolate. Rhachilla extension 0.05 length of fertile floret.

FLOWER Anthers 3. Ovary glabrous.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Endosperm liquid.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: western Asia.

NOTES Aveneae. WDC.

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