Ventenata sorgerae

HABIT Annual. Culms erect; slender; 7.5–16 cm long; 2–3 -noded. Culm-nodes pubescent. Leaf-sheaths inflated; glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1.5–3.5 mm long; acute. Leaf-blades involute; 1.2–3 cm long; 0.6–1.2 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface pubescent; hairy adaxially.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle. Peduncle pilose above.

Panicle open; lanceolate; interrupted; 2.5–5 cm long; 0.8–1.7 cm wide.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels cuneate; 2–8.5 mm long; puberulous.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 3–4 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets lanceolate; laterally compressed; 4.5–10 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating between fertile florets but the lowest falling with glumes attached. Rhachilla internodes 1 mm long. Floret callus evident; pubescent. Floret callus hairs 0.2–0.5 mm long.

GLUMES Glumes deciduous with pedicel attached; similar; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 3–4 mm long; 0.66–0.75 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 3.7–5.8 mm long; 0.9–1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 3–5(–7) -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile florets all alike. Fertile lemma lanceolate; 4.2–5.5 mm long; chartaceous; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma surface puberulous. Lemma apex entire; acute; muticous. Palea 3.8–4.8 mm long. Palea keels ciliolate. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 2.1–3 mm long. Ovary glabrous.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; ellipsoid; 1.7 mm long. 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.