Brachypodium pratense

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Rhizomes absent. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending; 45–90 cm long; 3–5 -noded. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface, or pilose. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 2 mm long. Leaf-blades 10–18 cm long; 3–8 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface pilose; sparsely hairy; hairy adaxially.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 1; single; bilateral; 10–15 cm long; bearing few fertile spikelets; bearing 3–6 fertile spikelets on each. Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis; lax; 2 -rowed.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels linear, or oblong; 2–3(–5.5) mm long.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 10–18 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets lanceolate, or oblong; laterally compressed; 20–40 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 4–7 mm long; 0.6–0.75 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 5 -veined. Lower glume surface glabrous. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; 7–9 mm long; 0.9 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 7 -veined. Upper glume surface glabrous. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 9–10 mm long; without keel; 7 -veined. Lemma lateral veins prominent. Lemma surface smooth; glabrous. Lemma apex acute; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn apical; 5–8 mm long overall. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 4 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: China.

NOTES Brachypodieae. Fl China 2007.

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