Vulpia fontquerana

HABIT Annual. Culms 4–30 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades 1–7 cm long; 0.5–1 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle, or composed of racemes (when impoverished).

Panicle contracted; linear; 2.5–7 cm long. Primary panicle branches simple.

Racemes few; single; unilateral.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels oblong; 2–4 mm long.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1–2 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets cuneate; laterally compressed; 6–10 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes eventually visible between lemmas. Floret callus elongated; 1–1.5 mm long; pubescent; pungent.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume linear; 2–4 mm long; 0.25–0.5 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume linear; 4–8 mm long; 1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex attenuate; awned; 1 -awned. Upper glume awn 1–4 mm long.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; 4–8 mm long; chartaceous; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma surface smooth, or asperulous. Lemma apex attenuate; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn 10–30 mm long overall. Palea 1 length of lemma; 2 -veined. Palea keels ciliolate. Apical sterile florets 2–3 in number; barren; separate; linear. Apical sterile lemmas awned; 1 -awned.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 0.5–0.6 mm long; retained within floret. Ovary glabrous.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Hilum linear.

DISTRIBUTION Europe: southwestern.

NOTES Poeae. WDC.

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