GrassBase - The Online World Grass Flora

Descriptions

W.D. Clayton, M. Vorontsova, K.T. Harman & H. Williamson

© Copyright The Board of Trustees, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Polypogon fugax

HABIT Annual; culms solitary, or caespitose. Culms erect, or decumbent; 5–60 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1–10 mm long. Leaf-blades 3–20 cm long; 3–10 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scaberulous; rough adaxially, or on both sides.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle spiciform; oblong, or ovate; continuous, or interrupted; 2–15 cm long; 0.6–3.5 cm wide. Panicle branches scabrous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels oblong; 0.2–0.3 mm long; scabrous.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 2–2.5 mm long; falling entire. Spikelet callus oblong, or cuneate; 0.2–0.4 mm long.

GLUMES Glumes similar; exceeding apex of florets; firmer than fertile lemma. Lower glume oblong; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; keeled above; 1 -veined. Lower glume primary vein scabrous. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume surface asperulous. Lower glume margins ciliolate. Lower glume apex emarginate; awned; 1 -awned. Lower glume awn 1–3 mm long. Upper glume oblong; 2 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; keeled above; 1 -veined. Upper glume primary vein scabrous. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume surface asperulous. Upper glume margins ciliolate. Upper glume apex emarginate; awned; 1 -awned. Upper glume awn 1–3 mm long.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 1–1.5 mm long; hyaline; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma lateral veins obscure. Lemma apex dentate; 4 -fid; muticous, or awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn from a sinus; 0–1.5 mm long overall. Palea 1 length of lemma; hyaline; 2 -veined.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 0.3–0.5 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Hilum linear.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: Macaronesia and northeast tropical. Asia-temperate: Soviet Middle Asia, Caucasus, western Asia, China, and eastern Asia. Asia-tropical: India and Indo-China. Australasia: New Zealand. Pacific: north-central.

NOTES Aveneae. FTA.

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