Helictotrichon aetolicum

HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped loosely. Rhizomes short. Culms slender; 20–60 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 4–6 mm long; 4–6 mm long on basal shoots; acute. Leaf-blades conduplicate; 4–8 cm long; 1.5–2 mm wide. Leaf-blade venation with subepidermal sclerenchyma attached to veins above; without layer of subepidermal sclerenchyma masking vein striation. Leaf-blade surface ungrooved; smooth. Leaf-blade margins scaberulous. Leaf-blade apex obtuse.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; linear, or oblong; 5–10 cm long. Primary panicle branches 1 -nate; 0.6–1 cm long. Panicle branches scabrous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 5–7 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 20 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes 2–2.5 mm long; pilose; with 1.5 mm long hairs. Floret callus pilose.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma; shiny. Lower glume elliptic; 11 mm long; 0.75 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume elliptic; 14 mm long; 1–1.1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic; 12–14 mm long; cartilaginous; without keel; 5–7 -veined. Lemma apex dentate; 2 -fid; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn dorsal; arising 0.5 way up back of lemma; geniculate; flat below; 12–16 mm long overall; with twisted column. Palea keels ciliolate. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Anthers 3. Ovary pubescent on apex.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; hairy at apex. Hilum linear.

DISTRIBUTION Europe: southeastern.

NOTES Aveneae. Fl Eur 1995.

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