Ventenata eigiana

HABIT Annual. Culms erect; 7–43 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 4 mm long; lacerate; acute. Leaf-blades convolute; 4–5 cm long; 1–2 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface pubescent; hairy adaxially.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; pyramidal; 6–14 cm long; 3–5 cm wide. Primary panicle branches 2–6 cm long; bearing 1–3 fertile spikelets on each lower branch.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels cuneate; 5–18 mm long; scabrous.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 3–4 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 9.5–13 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating between fertile florets but the lowest falling with glumes attached. Floret callus evident; pubescent.

GLUMES Glumes deciduous with pedicel attached; similar; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 3.5–5.5 mm long; 0.5 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; 7.5–10 mm long; 0.9–1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 5 -veined. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile florets with the lowest dissimilar. Lowest fertile lemma elliptic; 1.25 length of adjacent lemma; thinner than adjacent lemma; lobed; awned. Fertile lemma oblong; 8–10 mm long; chartaceous; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma apex dentate; 2 -fid; awned; 3 -awned. Principal lemma awn dorsal; geniculate; 14–21 mm long overall; with twisted column. Lateral lemma awns arising on apex of lobes; 1–2.5 mm long; shorter than principal. Palea 4–4.8 mm long. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 0.3 mm long. Ovary glabrous.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Endosperm liquid.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: western Asia.

NOTES Aveneae. Fl Turk 1993.

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