Poaceae
Alopecurus

Alopecurus japonicus Steud.

First published in Syn. Pl. Glumac. 1: 149 (1854)
This species is accepted
The native range of this species is Central & S. China, S. Central & S. Japan to Nansei-shoto. It is an annual or biennial and grows primarily in the temperate 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
Annual; caespitose; clumped densely. Basal innovations intravaginal. Culms geniculately ascending; 20-60 cm long; 1-2 mm diam.; 3-4 -noded. Culm-internodes 2-8 cm long. Leaves basal and cauline. Leaf-sheaths loose; 3-4 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 2-4 mm long; white; obtuse. Leaf-blades 3-15 cm long; 3-8 mm wide; glaucous; pruinose. Leaf-blade surface scabrous; rough adaxially; glabrous.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescence a panicle; subtended by an inflated leaf-sheath. Panicle spiciform; linear; 3-10 cm long; 0.5-1 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; 0.3-0.8 mm long.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Spikelets
Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; laterally compressed; 5-6 mm long; falling entire.
Fertile
Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; laterally compressed; 5-6 mm long; falling entire.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts Glume
Glumes free; similar; shorter than spikelet; shiny. Lower glume elliptic; 4.2-4.5 mm long; 1.1 length of upper glume; membranous; light green; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Lower glume primary vein ciliate. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume elliptic; 4-4.3 mm long; 0.8 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; light green; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Upper glume primary vein ciliate. Upper glume apex acute.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Florets
Fertile lemma ovate; 5-6 mm long; membranous; keeled; 5 -veined. Lemma margins free, or connate below. Lemma apex obtuse; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn dorsal; arising 0.1 way up back of lemma; geniculate; 10-12 mm long overall; with twisted column. Palea absent or minute.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
Lodicules absent. Anthers 3; 1 mm long; pallid, or yellow. Stigmas protogynous; terminally exserted; pubescent. Ovary glabrous.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; 2-2.5 mm long. Hilum punctiform. Disseminule comprising a spikelet.
Distribution
Asia-temperate: China and eastern Asia.
Reference
Aveneae. Koyama 1994.
[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