Glyceria arundinacea

HABIT Perennial. Culms erect; 70–150 cm long. Leaf-sheaths tubular for much of their length; with 1 of their length closed; smooth; glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 2–3 mm long. Leaf-blades 15–30 cm long; 3–8 mm wide; mid-green, or grey-green. Leaf-blade surface scaberulous; rough adaxially. Leaf-blade margins scaberulous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; 15–20 cm long. Primary panicle branches spreading. Panicle branches scaberulous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2–5 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets elliptic, or ovate; laterally compressed; 6–7 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume elliptic; 1–1.5 mm long; 0.66 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume elliptic; 1.5–2.5 mm long; 0.5 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic; 3–4 mm long; membranous; much thinner above; without keel; 5–7 -veined. Lemma surface asperulous. Lemma apex acute. Palea 3 mm long; 2 -veined. Palea keels wingless. Palea apex dentate; 2 -fid. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; united; oblong; fleshy; truncate. Anthers 3; 0.7–1.2 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Hilum linear.

DISTRIBUTION Europe: southeastern and eastern. Asia-temperate: Caucasus and western Asia.

NOTES Meliceae. Fl Turk 1993.

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