Vulpia elliotea

HABIT Annual; caespitose. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending; 15–60 cm long. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.5–1 mm long. Leaf-blades flat, or involute; 5–10 cm long; 0.5–1 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle contracted; linear; 5–20 cm long. Primary panicle branches appressed.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 3–6 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong, or cuneate; laterally compressed; 3.5–5 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume linear; 1.3–2.5 mm long; 0.5 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume surface glabrous. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume linear; 2.5–4 mm long; 1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins obscure. Upper glume surface glabrous. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; 2.5–3.5 mm long; chartaceous; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma surface pubescent. Lemma apex attenuate; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn 4.5–9.5 mm long overall. Palea 0.9 length of lemma; 2 -veined. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Anthers 1; 0.5 mm long. Ovary glabrous.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; linear; 1.5–2 mm long; glabrous.

DISTRIBUTION North America: north-central USA, northeast USA, south-central USA, and southeast USA.

NOTES Poeae. Gr Texas 1993.

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