Vulpia alpina

HABIT Annual; culms solitary, or caespitose. Culms erect, or decumbent; 3–6 cm long. Leaf-sheaths without keel. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.3–1 mm long. Leaf-blades flat, or involute; 2–4 cm long; 0.4 mm wide. Leaf-blade apex attenuate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle; exserted, or embraced at base by subtending leaf.

Panicle contracted; linear; nodding; curved; 1–2 cm long. Primary panicle branches appressed.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2–3 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong, or cuneate; laterally compressed; 6–8 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes eventually visible between lemmas.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume linear to lanceolate; 0.15–0.4 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 0.75 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 1–3 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent, or obscure. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; 4–6 mm long; chartaceous; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma apex acuminate; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn 4–12 mm long overall. Palea 1 length of lemma; 2 -veined. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: China.

NOTES Poeae. Liu 2006.

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