Koeleria altaica

HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped densely. Butt sheaths pubescent; persistent and investing base of culm; with compacted dead sheaths. Culms erect; 10–30 cm long. Culm-internodes distally glabrous. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades convolute; 2–3 cm long; 0.5–2 mm wide; glaucous. Leaf-blade surface scabrous; rough adaxially; glabrous, or pubescent; hairy adaxially. Leaf-blade margins cartilaginous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle. Peduncle pubescent above.

Panicle spiciform; linear; interrupted; 2.5–6 cm long. Panicle axis pubescent. Panicle branches pubescent.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2 fertile florets; with a barren rhachilla extension. Spikelets obovate; laterally compressed; 4.5–5 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes pubescent.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet; similar to fertile lemma in texture; shiny; gaping. Lower glume lanceolate; 0.9 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume primary vein ciliolate. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume surface glabrous, or pubescent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume oblong; 0.9 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Upper glume primary vein ciliolate. Upper glume surface glabrous, or pubescent. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 4.5–5 mm long; membranous; shiny; keeled. Lemma surface puberulous. Lemma apex acute; mucronate, or awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn subapical; 0.5 mm long overall. Palea gaping.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; membranous. Anthers 3. Ovary glabrous.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: Siberia, Soviet Middle Asia, China, and Mongolia.

NOTES Aveneae. Domin 1995.

ADDITIONAL CHARACTERS Peduncle pubescent for less than 2cm.

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