Airopsis tenella

HABIT Annual; caespitose. Culms 3–20(–30) cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1–2 mm long; lacerate; obtuse. Leaf-blades convolute; 1–6 cm long; 0.5–1.5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scaberulous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle contracted; linear, or oblong; 1–3 cm long; 0.3–1 cm wide.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels filiform; tip pyriform.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets orbicular; laterally compressed; 1.2–1.5 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes suppressed between florets. Floret callus glabrous.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; shiny. Lower glume orbicular; gibbous; 1.2–1.5 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex obtuse. Upper glume orbicular; gibbous; 1.2–1.5 mm long; 1.2 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex obtuse.

FLORETS Fertile lemma orbicular; gibbous; 1–1.3 mm long; membranous; shiny; without keel; 3 -veined. Lemma margins pilose. Lemma apex obtuse.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 0.3 mm long. Ovary glabrous.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; orbicular; dorsally compressed; plano-convex; 0.5 mm long. Endosperm farinose. Disseminule comprising a floret.

DISTRIBUTION Europe: southwestern and southeastern. Africa: north.

NOTES Aveneae. WDC.

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