Rostraria festucoides

HABIT Annual. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending; 7–30 cm long. Culm-internodes distally pubescent. Leaf-sheaths pubescent. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.5–1 mm long; truncate. Leaf-blades 2–5 cm long; 1 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle contracted; lanceolate; 2–7 cm long. Panicle branches scabrous; glabrous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2–4 fertile florets; with a barren rhachilla extension. Spikelets oblong, or cuneate; laterally compressed; 3–5 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes definite; pubescent. Floret callus glabrous.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; dissimilar; reaching apex of florets; shiny; gaping. Lower glume linear; 0.7–1.3 mm long; 0.25 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume elliptic; 3–5 mm long; 1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Upper glume primary vein scaberulous. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma linear; 3–5 mm long; membranous; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma lateral veins obscure. Lemma apex awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn from a sinus; straight; 1–2 mm long overall. Palea gaping; 0.5 length of lemma; hyaline.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; membranous. Anthers 3; 0.5 mm long. Ovary glabrous.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Hilum punctiform.

DISTRIBUTION Europe: southwestern and southeastern. Africa: north and Macaronesia. Asia-temperate: western Asia. Australasia: Australia.

NOTES Aveneae. Fl Eur.

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