Vulpia alopecuros

HABIT Annual. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending; 30–60 cm long. Leaf-sheaths striately veined; glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.5 mm long; truncate. Leaf-blades filiform; convolute; 3–10 cm long; 2.5–4 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface pubescent; hairy adaxially.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; linear; secund; 12–15 cm long; 1–2(–3) cm wide. Primary panicle branches indistinct the panicle almost racemose. Panicle axis scabrous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels clavate; 5–8 mm long.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 6–8 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong, or cuneate; laterally compressed; 16–21 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus evident; 0.5–0.8 mm long; pilose; acute.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume linear; 1–1.5 mm long; 0.1 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume surface smooth, or scabrous; rough at apex. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume linear, or lanceolate; 13–15 mm long; 1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume margins scabrous. Upper glume apex acuminate; awned; 1 -awned. Upper glume awn 4–7 mm long.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; 12–16 mm long; chartaceous; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma apex attenuate; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn 12–24 mm long overall. Palea 7–8 mm long; 2 -veined. Palea keels scabrous. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Anthers (1–)3; (1.5–)2–2.5 mm long; eventually exserted. Ovary glabrous.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; linear; glabrous.

DISTRIBUTION Europe: southwestern and southeastern. Africa: north.

NOTES Poeae. Gr Extremad 1993.

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