GrassBase - The Online World Grass Flora

Ampelodesmos

HABIT Perennial. Rhizomes short. Culms 100–200 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades coriaceous; stiff.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle contracted.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2–5 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 10–16 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes definite; villous. Floret callus bearded.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; shorter than spikelet, or reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 0.75 times length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Lower glume surface without pits. Lower glume apex attenuate. Upper glume lanceolate; 0.8–1.2 times length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 5 -veined. Upper glume apex attenuate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; coriaceous; keeled; wingless; 5 -veined. Lemma midvein ciliate. Lemma surface unwrinkled; without grooves. Lemma apex dentate; 2 -fid; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn from a sinus. Palea 0.75 times length of lemma; coriaceous; 2 -veined. Palea keels scaberulous. Palea apex dentate. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 3; membranous; ciliate; acute. Anthers 3. Ovary with a fleshy appendage below style insertion; pubescent on apex.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; linear. Embryo 0.25 times length of caryopsis. Hilum linear; 1 times length of caryopsis.

DISTRIBUTION Europe, or Africa, or Temperate Asia, or North America.

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Version: 8^th November 2006.

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