Poaceae
Alopecurus

Alopecurus gerardi Vill.

First published in Fl. Delphinalis: 5 (1786)
This species is accepted
The native range of this species is Medit. It is a perennial and grows primarily in the subtropical biome.

Descriptions

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
Perennial. Rhizomes elongated. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending; 7-40 cm long; 2 -noded. Culm-internodes smooth; distally glabrous. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1-2 mm long; truncate. Leaf-blades 1-7 cm long; 1-4.2 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous. Leaf-blade margins scaberulous. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescence a panicle; subtended by an inflated leaf-sheath. Panicle spiciform; ovate; 1-2 cm long; 0.7-1 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 oblong; laterally compressed; 4-6.3 mm long; falling entire.
Fertile
Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 4-6.3 mm long; falling entire.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts Glume
Glumes connate along margins below; 0.1 of their length connate; similar; exceeding apex of florets; recurved at apex. Lower glume lanceolate; 4-6.3 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Lower glume primary vein ciliate. Lower glume surface pilose. Lower glume apex acute; mucronate, or awned; 1 -awned. Lower glume awn 0.5-1.5 mm long. Upper glume lanceolate; 4-6.3 mm long; 1.3-1.5 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Upper glume primary vein ciliate. Upper glume surface pilose. Upper glume mucronate, or awned; 1 -awned. Upper glume awn 0.5-1.5 mm long.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Florets
Fertile lemma oblong; 3-4 mm long; membranous; keeled; 5 -veined. Lemma surface with conspicuous apical hairs. Lemma margins free. Lemma apex truncate; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn dorsal; arising 0.33-0.5 way up back of lemma; straight; 0.8-6 mm long overall; not or scarcely exserted from spikelet. Palea linear; 2.5-3.5 mm long; 0.8-0.9 length of lemma; 1 -veined; 1-keeled. Palea keels ciliate; adorned above; with 0.5 of their length adorned. Palea apex acuminate.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
Lodicules absent. Anthers 3; 2-2.5 mm long. Stigmas terminally exserted; pubescent.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Disseminule comprising a spikelet.
Distribution
Europe: southwestern and southeastern. Asia-temperate: western Asia.
Reference
Aveneae. Fl Turk 2007.
[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

    • 'The Herbarium Catalogue, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Published on the Internet http://www.kew.org/herbcat [accessed on Day Month Year]'. Please enter the date on which you consulted the system.
    • Digital Image © Board of Trustees, RBG Kew http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

  • Kew Backbone Distributions

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2025. 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 2025. 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