Sesleria calabrica

HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped densely. Butt sheaths persistent and investing base of culm; with compacted dead sheaths. Culms erect; (25–)30–50(–60) cm long. Culm-internodes distally glabrous. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Leaf-sheath oral hairs ciliate. Ligule a ciliolate membrane; 0.3–0.5 mm long. Leaf-blades curved; conduplicate; (10–)15–35(–60) cm long; (1.6–)2.2–2.8(–3.2) mm wide; pruinose. Leaf-blade venation comprising (8–)10–13(–17) vascular bundles; with 9–11 subepidermal sclerenchyma strands; without layer of subepidermal sclerenchyma masking vein striation. Leaf-blade surface glabrous. Leaf-blade apex acute; pungent.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle; comprising 6–12 fertile spikelets. Peduncle tipped by a glumaceous appendage.

Panicle spiciform; linear; (1.2–)3–3.5(–4.2) cm long. Panicle branches smooth, or scaberulous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2(–3) fertile florets; with a barren rhachilla extension. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; (6–)6.5–7(–9.2) mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; reaching apex of florets. Lower glume ovate; (5.5–)6–6.5(–7) mm long; 1 length of upper glume; scarious; much thinner on margins; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute, or acuminate; awned; 1 -awned. Lower glume awn (1–)1.5–2.5(–3) mm long. Upper glume ovate; (5.5–)6–6.5(–7) mm long; 0.9 length of adjacent fertile lemma; scarious; with membranous margins; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume apex acuminate; awned; 1 -awned. Upper glume awn (1–)1.5–2.5(–3) mm long.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; (5–)5.5–6.2(–6.9) mm long; membranous; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma surface scabrous; rough above; glabrous. Lemma margins ciliolate. Lemma hairs 0.1–0.25 mm long. Lemma apex dentate; 5 -fid; awned; 5 -awned. Principal lemma awn 1–2.7 mm long overall. Lateral lemma awns 0.2–1.2 mm long. Palea 1 length of lemma. Palea surface puberulous; hairy on margins. Palea apex dentate; 2 -fid.

FLOWER Anthers 3; (2–)2.9–3.5(–4.2) mm long. Stigmas 2; pubescent. Styles 3–4 mm long. Ovary pubescent on apex.

DISTRIBUTION Europe: southeastern.

NOTES Poeae. Pietro 2011.

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