Eremopoa persica

HABIT Annual; caespitose. Culms 5–65 cm long. Leaf-sheaths longer than adjacent culm internode; ribbed. Ligule an eciliate membrane; acute. Leaf-blades 2.5–8 cm long; (0.6–)1.3–2.6 mm wide; flaccid. Leaf-blade surface scabrous; rough adaxially.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; 6–17 cm long; (1.5–)3–5 cm wide. Primary panicle branches 5–9 -nate; whorled at most nodes. Panicle branches scabrous.

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

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising (2–)3–5(–8) fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets elliptic; laterally compressed; 4–8.5 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes definite; eventually visible between lemmas; scaberulous.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; dissimilar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume ovate; 1.1–2 mm long; 0.6–0.7 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 1.6–3 mm long; 0.6–0.8 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; oblong in profile; (1.9–)2.5–3.5 mm long; membranous; much thinner above; keeled; 5 -veined. Lemma surface pubescent; hairy below; hairy on veins. Lemma hairs 0.3–0.5 mm long. Lemma apex truncate, or acute. Palea keels scabrous; adorned above. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Anthers 3; linear; 1.4–2.6 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; lanceolate; trigonous. Embryo 1.1–1.2 length of caryopsis.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: Caucasus, western Asia, and Arabia. Asia-tropical: India.

NOTES Poeae. Fl Turk.

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