Koeleria litvinowii

HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped loosely. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending; 25–45 cm long; 2–5 -noded. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1–2 mm long. Leaf-blades 3.5–10 cm long; 2–4 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scaberulous; rough on both sides; glabrous, or pubescent; sparsely hairy. Leaf-blade margins scabrous. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle. Peduncle glabrous, or pilose above.

Panicle spiciform; oblong; continuous, or interrupted; 3–7 cm long. Panicle branches scabrous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2–3 fertile florets; with a barren rhachilla extension. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 5 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes pubescent. Floret callus pubescent.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma; shiny; gaping. Lower glume lanceolate; 4.5–5 mm long; 0.9 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume elliptic; 5–5.5 mm long; 1.1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic; 4.5–5 mm long; membranous; much thinner above; much thinner on margins; shiny; keeled; 5–7 -veined. Lemma apex entire; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn subapical; straight; 0.5–1.2 mm long overall. Palea gaping; hyaline. Palea keels scaberulous.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 0.6–1.2 mm long. Ovary glabrous.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Hilum punctiform.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: Soviet Middle Asia, China, and Mongolia. Asia-tropical: India.

NOTES Aveneae. Fl Pak 1993.

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