Avena volgensis

HABIT Annual. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending; 60–150 cm long. Lateral branches lacking. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades 15–30 cm long; 2–6 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; elliptic; 15–25 cm long.

Spikelets pendulous; solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels filiform.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 3–4 fertile florets; with a barren rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; laterally compressed; 20–25 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes 0.5 mm long. Floret callus evident; 1 mm long; obtuse; fracturing irregularly.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma; gaping. Lower glume lanceolate; 20–25 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 7 -veined. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume elliptic; 20–25 mm long; 1.3–1.5 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 9 -veined. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; 14–18 mm long; coriaceous; much thinner above; without keel; 7 -veined. Lemma lateral veins absent or obscure below. Lemma apex dentate; 2–4 -fid; muticous.

FLOWER Anthers 3. Ovary pubescent all over.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; sulcate on hilar side; hairy all over. Hilum linear. Disseminule comprising a floret.

DISTRIBUTION Europe: eastern.

NOTES Aveneae. Zlaki 1997.

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