Ventenata quercetorum

HABIT Annual. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending; 12–14 cm long; 2 -noded. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 2.5–4 mm long. Leaf-blades convolute; 1.3–2.4 cm long; 0.5–1 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface pubescent; hairy adaxially.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 1; linear, or lanceolate; paucilateral; 4–5 cm long; 10–14 mm wide. Spikelet packing irregular.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels cuneate; 1.2–5.5 mm long; scabrous.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 5 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 8.5–10 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating between fertile florets but the lowest falling with glumes attached. Rhachilla internodes pubescent. Floret callus evident.

GLUMES Glumes deciduous with pedicel attached; similar; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 4.5 mm long; 0.75 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; 6 mm long; 0.9 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 3 -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; entire; muticous. Fertile lemma oblong; 7 mm long; chartaceous; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma surface pubescent; hairy below. Lemma apex dentate; 2 -fid; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn dorsal; geniculate; 8 mm long overall; with twisted column. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 2.4–3.1 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.