Triticum urartu

HABIT Annual. Culms geniculately ascending; 60–90 cm long. Culm-internodes distally glabrous. Leaf-sheaths pubescent. Leaf-sheath oral hairs ciliate. Leaf-sheath auricles falcate. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades 30–45 cm long; 7–10 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface puberulous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 1; single; bilateral; 7–9 cm long; 6–7 mm wide. Rhachis fragile at the nodes; flattened; ciliate on margins. Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis. Rhachis internodes oblong; falling with spikelet above.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1–2 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 17–20 mm long; falling entire; deciduous with accessory branch structures.

GLUMES Glumes similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume oblong; 8–11 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; coriaceous; 2-keeled; keeled all along; 3–5 -veined. Lower glume apex dentate; 2 -fid. Upper glume oblong; 8–11 mm long; coriaceous; 2-keeled; keeled all along; 3–5 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins divergent at apex. Upper glume apex dentate; 2 -fid.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic; 15 mm long; coriaceous; keeled. Lemma apex dentate; 2 -fid; with lobes 1.5–2.5 mm long; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn from a sinus; 60–80 mm long overall. Palea 2 -veined. Palea keels wingless. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Anthers 3. Ovary with a fleshy appendage below style insertion; pubescent on apex.

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

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: Caucasus.

NOTES Triticeae. Gandil 1996.

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