Poaceae
Alopecurus

Alopecurus nepalensis Trin. ex Steud.

First published in Syn. Pl. Glumac. 1: 148 (1854)
This species is accepted
The native range of this species is NW. Pakistan to Central Asia and Nepal. It is an annual and grows primarily in the temperate biome.

Descriptions

Morphology General Habit
Annual. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending; (5-)15-45 cm long. Leaf-sheaths inflated (slightly). Ligule an eciliate membrane; 2-3 mm long; obtuse. Leaf-blades 4-9 cm long; 2.5-3 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescence a panicle. Panicle spiciform; linear; tapering above; 1-5 cm long; 0.3-0.5 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; 3-3.5 mm long; falling entire.
Fertile
Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; laterally compressed; 3-3.5 mm long; falling entire.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts Glume
Glumes connate along margins below; similar; reaching apex of florets. Lower glume oblong; 3-3.5 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; winged on keel; 3 -veined. Lower glume primary vein ciliolate. Lower glume surface glabrous. Lower glume apex obtuse, or acute. Upper glume oblong; 3-3.5 mm long; 1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; winged on keel; 3 -veined. Upper glume primary vein ciliolate. Upper glume surface glabrous. Upper glume apex obtuse, or acute.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Florets
Fertile lemma elliptic; 3-3.5 mm long; membranous; keeled; 4 -veined. Lemma margins connate below. Lemma apex obtuse, or acute; muticous (or with a basal stump). Palea absent or minute.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
Lodicules absent. Anthers 3; 0.6 mm long. Stigmas protogynous; terminally exserted; pubescent. Ovary glabrous.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Hilum punctiform. Disseminule comprising a spikelet.
Distribution
Asia-temperate: Soviet Middle Asia. Asia-tropical: India.
Reference
Aveneae. Fl Pak.
Diagnostic
Glumes connate for 0.25-0.33 of their length.
[GB]

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]

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