Helictotrichon cincinnatum

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms 40–80 cm long; 1 mm diam. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 4–5 mm long; 1–1.5 mm long on basal shoots; acute. Leaf-blades tortuous; flat, or conduplicate; 10–15 cm long; 2–3 mm wide; 0.5–3 cm long at summit of culm; glaucous. Leaf-blade venation with subepidermal sclerenchyma free from veins; without layer of subepidermal sclerenchyma masking vein striation. Leaf-blade surface ribbed; grooved abaxially. Leaf-blade margins cartilaginous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle; comprising 6–17 fertile spikelets.

Panicle open; linear, or oblong; 6–12 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 5–7 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 18–24 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes 2–3 mm long; glabrous. Floret callus pilose. Floret callus hairs 1.5 mm long.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 10–14 mm long; 0.75 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 13–18 mm long; 1.1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic; widest at 0.5 of its length from base; 12–16 mm long; cartilaginous; without keel; 5–7 -veined. Lemma apex dentate; 2 -fid; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn dorsal; arising 0.5 way up back of lemma; geniculate; flat below; 13–22 mm long overall; with twisted column. Palea keels ciliolate. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Anthers 3. Ovary pubescent on apex.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; hairy at apex. Hilum linear.

DISTRIBUTION Europe: southeastern.

NOTES Aveneae. Fl Eur 1995.

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