Phalaris brachystachys

HABIT Annual; caespitose. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending; 30–90 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades 10–20 cm long; 2–8 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle spiciform; ovate; 1.5–4 cm long; 0.8–1.8 cm wide.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets obovate; laterally compressed; compressed strongly; 6.3–8.5 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume elliptic; 6.3–8.5 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; chartaceous; 1-keeled; winged on keel; winged above; 3 -veined. Lower glume surface glabrous, or pilose. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume elliptic; 6.3–8.5 mm long; 1.4–1.5 length of adjacent fertile lemma; chartaceous; 1-keeled; winged on keel; winged above; 3 -veined. Upper glume surface glabrous, or pilose. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets similar; barren; without significant palea; attached to and deciduous with the fertile. Lemma of lower sterile floret ovate; 0.6–1.2 mm long; 0.1–0.2 length of fertile lemma; fleshy; acute. Fertile lemma elliptic; laterally compressed; 4.5–5.5 mm long; cartilaginous; shiny; keeled; 5 -veined. Lemma surface pubescent. Lemma apex acute. Palea cartilaginous; 2 -veined; without keels. Palea surface pubescent.

FLOWER Anthers 3. Ovary glabrous.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; 3.5–3.9 mm long. Hilum linear.

DISTRIBUTION Europe: southwestern and southeastern. Africa: north and Macaronesia. Asia-temperate: Caucasus and western Asia. Asia-tropical: Papuasia. North America: northwest USA, southwest USA, and south-central USA.

NOTES Aveneae. Anderson.

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