Trisetum scitulum

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms 30–50 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades 8–15 cm long; 3–8 mm wide. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle. Peduncle glabrous.

Panicle open; elliptic; dense; 7–10 cm long. Panicle axis glabrous. Panicle branches scabrous; glabrous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2 fertile florets; with a barren rhachilla extension. Spikelets cuneate; laterally compressed; 7–8 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes pubescent. Floret callus pubescent.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet, or reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma; shiny; gaping. Lower glume lanceolate; 4.5–6 mm long; 0.75–0.8 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume elliptic; 6.5–8 mm long; 1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic; 6.5–8 mm long; membranous; shiny; keeled; 5 -veined. Lemma apex dentate; 2 -fid; awned; 3 -awned. Principal lemma awn dorsal; arising 0.75 way up back of lemma; geniculate; 10–11 mm long overall; with twisted column. Lateral lemma awns arising on apex of lobes; 1 mm long. Palea gaping; hyaline.

FLOWER Anthers 3. Ovary glabrous.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Hilum punctiform.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: China. Asia-tropical: India.

NOTES Aveneae. WDC 1994.

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