Hordelymus

HABIT Perennial. Culms erect, or decumbent; 40–120 cm long. Leaf-sheath auricles falcate. Ligule an eciliate membrane.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes single; erect, or drooping; bilateral. Spikelet packing abaxial.

Spikelets appressed; in threes. Fertile spikelets pedicelled; 3 in the cluster. Pedicels oblong.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1–2 fertile florets; with a barren rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; dorsally compressed; 8–10 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes definite.

GLUMES Glumes collateral; connate along margins below; persistent; shorter than spikelet, or reaching apex of florets. Lower glume linear; 1 length of upper glume; coriaceous; without keels; 3 -veined. Lower glume surface without pits. Lower glume apex acuminate; awned. Upper glume linear; coriaceous; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex acuminate; awned; 1 -awned.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; coriaceous; without keel; wingless; 5 -veined. Lemma surface scaberulous; unwrinkled; without grooves. Lemma apex acuminate; awned; 1 -awned. Palea 1 length of lemma; 2 -veined.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; membranous. Anthers 3. Ovary with a fleshy appendage below style insertion; pubescent on apex.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; fusiform. Embryo 0.2 length of caryopsis. Hilum linear; 1 length of caryopsis.

DISTRIBUTION Europe, or Africa, or Temperate Asia.

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