Vulpia ligustica

HABIT Annual. Culms erect; 10–60 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.5–1 mm long; entire, or lacerate. Leaf-blades 3–12 cm long; 1–3 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle contracted; lanceolate; equilateral, or nodding; 5–13 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels oblong; 1.5–5.5 mm long.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 3–4 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets cuneate; laterally compressed; 6.5–10(–16) mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes eventually visible between lemmas.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; dissimilar; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 2–6 mm long; 0.5–0.75 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume linear; 5–10 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 1–2 mm long.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; 6–9 mm long; membranous; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma surface asperulous; glabrous, or pubescent. Lemma apex attenuate; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn 5–8 mm long overall. Palea 1 length of lemma; 2 -veined. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 2–3 mm long; eventually exserted. Ovary pubescent on apex.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Hilum linear.

DISTRIBUTION Europe: northern, southwestern, and southeastern. Africa: north. Asia-temperate: western Asia.

NOTES Poeae. Fl Eur.

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