Periballia involucrata

HABIT Annual. Culms 15–40 cm long. Leaf-sheaths antrorsely scabrous. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 2–4 mm long. Leaf-blades convolute; 2–6 cm long; 0.5–1 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; elliptic, or ovate; 3–15 cm long. Primary panicle branches sterile at lowest node. Panicle branches capillary.

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

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; laterally compressed; 2.5–3 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes definite; pubescent. Floret callus pubescent.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; reaching apex of florets, or shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma; shiny. Lower glume lanceolate; 2–2.5 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; hyaline; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 2–2.5 mm long; 0.9–1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; hyaline; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 2–2.5 mm long; membranous; without keel; 3 -veined. Lemma surface asperulous. Lemma apex acute; muticous, or awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn dorsal; arising 0.1 way up back of lemma; straight; 0–1 mm long overall; not or scarcely exserted from spikelet. Palea 1 length of lemma. Palea surface asperulous.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 0.1–0.3 mm long.

FRUIT Endosperm farinose.

DISTRIBUTION Europe: southwestern.

NOTES Aveneae. Fl Eur.

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