Phalaris californica

HABIT Annual; caespitose. Rhizomes absent. Culms erect; 75–150 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades 10–30 cm long; 8–15 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle spiciform; oblong, or ovate; 1.5–5 cm long; 1–3 cm wide.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets obovate; laterally compressed; compressed strongly; 5–8 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume elliptic; 5–8 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; chartaceous; 1-keeled; wingless, or winged on keel; winged narrowly; 3–5 -veined. Lower glume primary vein scaberulous. Lower glume apex acute, or acuminate. Upper glume elliptic; 5–8 mm long; 1.4–1.6 length of adjacent fertile lemma; chartaceous; 1-keeled; wingless, or winged on keel; 3–5 -veined. Upper glume primary vein scaberulous. Upper glume apex acute, or acuminate.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets similar; barren; without significant palea; attached to and deciduous with the fertile. Lemma of lower sterile floret linear; 1.8–3.3 mm long; 0.5–0.7 length of fertile lemma; pubescent. Fertile lemma elliptic; laterally compressed; 3.5–5 mm long; cartilaginous; shiny; keeled; 5 -veined. Lemma surface pubescent; hairy all along. Lemma apex acute. Palea cartilaginous; 2 -veined; without keels. Palea surface pubescent; hairy on back.

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

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; 2.4–2.6 mm long. Hilum linear.

DISTRIBUTION North America: northwest USA and southwest USA.

NOTES Aveneae. Anderson.

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