Poaceae
Alopecurus

Alopecurus carolinianus Walter

First published in Fl. Carol.: 74 (1788)
This species is accepted
The native range of this species is W. & Central Canada to U.S.A. and Mexico (Sonora). It is an annual and grows primarily in the temperate biome.

Descriptions

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/64263649/67728498

Conservation
LC - least concern
[IUCN]

Extinction risk predictions for the world's flowering plants to support their conservation (2024). Bachman, S.P., Brown, M.J.M., Leão, T.C.C., Lughadha, E.N., Walker, B.E. https://nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/nph.19592

Conservation
Predicted extinction risk: not threatened. Confidence: confident
[AERP]

Morphology General Habit
Annual; caespitose. Culms 10-50 cm long. Culm-internodes distally glabrous. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 3.5-7 mm long. Leaf-blades 3-15 cm long; 1-4 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface smooth, or scaberulous.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescence a panicle. Panicle spiciform; linear; 2-6 cm long; 0.4-0.6 cm wide. Primary panicle branches accrescent to a central axis; with evident branchlets on axis. Panicle axis with rounded ribs. Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels oblong.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Spikelets
Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; laterally compressed; 1.8-3 mm long; falling entire.
Fertile
Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; laterally compressed; 1.8-3 mm long; falling entire.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts Glume
Glumes connate along margins below; 0.25-0.33 of their length connate; similar; reaching apex of florets. Lower glume ovate; 1.8-3 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Lower glume primary vein ciliate. Lower glume margins ciliate. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 1.8-3 mm long; 1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Upper glume primary vein ciliate. Upper glume margins ciliate. Upper glume apex acute.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Florets
Fertile lemma ovate; 1.8-2 mm long; membranous; keeled; 5 -veined. Lemma margins connate below. Lemma apex obtuse; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn dorsal; arising 0.1-0.2 way up back of lemma; geniculate; 3-5 mm long overall; with twisted column. Palea absent or minute.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
Lodicules absent. Anthers 3; 0.3-0.5 mm long. Stigmas protogynous; terminally exserted; pubescent. Ovary glabrous.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; 1-1.4 mm long. Embryo 0.25 length of caryopsis. Hilum punctiform. Disseminule comprising a spikelet.
Distribution
North America: western Canada, northwest USA, north-central USA, northeast USA, southwest USA, south-central USA, and southeast USA.
Reference
Aveneae. Gr Tex 1993.
[GB]

Sources

  • Angiosperm Extinction Risk Predictions v1

    • Angiosperm Threat Predictions
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0

  • GrassBase - The Online World Grass Flora

    • Clayton, W.D., Vorontsova, M.S., Harman, K.T. and Williamson, H. (2006 onwards). GrassBase - The Online World Grass Flora.
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Herbarium Catalogue Specimens

    • Digital Image © Board of Trustees, RBG Kew http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

  • IUCN Categories

    • IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Kew Backbone Distributions

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2026. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2023 World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

  • Kew Names and Taxonomic Backbone

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2026. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2023 International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0