Colpodium araraticum

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Rhizomes short. Butt sheaths persistent and investing base of culm; with reticulate dead sheaths. Culms erect; 20–55 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 3–5 mm long; acute. Leaf-blades 4–11 cm long; 1–3 mm wide. Leaf-blade midrib prominent beneath. Leaf-blade surface glabrous. Leaf-blade margins cartilaginous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle contracted; linear; interrupted; 4–11 cm long; 0.5–1.5 cm wide. Primary panicle branches 0.2–0.6 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2(–3) fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets cuneate; laterally compressed; 6–7 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus glabrous.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet; similar to fertile lemma in texture; gaping. Lower glume oblong; 4.5 mm long; 0.75–1 length of upper glume; membranous; much thinner above; much thinner on margins; purple; 1-keeled; keeled below; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume elliptic; 4.5–6 mm long; 1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; much thinner above; with hyaline margins; purple; 1-keeled; keeled below; 3 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins all falling short of apex. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic; 4–6 mm long; membranous; much thinner above; purple and yellow; tipped with last colour; keeled; 5 -veined. Lemma lateral veins less than two thirds length of lemma. Lemma surface pubescent; hairy below. Lemma apex erose; obtuse. Palea keels smooth; eciliate.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 3.3–4.5 mm long; yellow, or purple.

FRUIT Hilum elliptic.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: Caucasus and western Asia.

NOTES Poeae. Fl Turk 1993.

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