Poaceae
Koeleria

Koeleria caudata (Link) Steud.

First published in Syn. Pl. Glumac. 1: 293 (1854)
This species is accepted
The native range of this species is W. Medit. It is a perennial and grows primarily in the temperate biome.

Descriptions

Morphology General Habit
Perennial; caespitose. Basal innovations extravaginal. Culms erect; 45-90 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.5 mm long; truncate. Leaf-blades flat, or conduplicate; 2-23 cm long; 0.5-1.5 mm wide; flaccid; glaucous. Leaf-blade surface glabrous; hairless except near base. Leaf-blade margins scabrous.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescence a panicle. Peduncle pubescent above. Panicle spiciform; linear; interrupted; 3-18 cm long. Panicle branches pubescent. Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Spikelets
Spikelets comprising 2-3 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets obovate; laterally compressed; (2-)2.8-4 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes pubescent.
Fertile
Spikelets comprising 2-3 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets obovate; laterally compressed; (2-)2.8-4 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes pubescent.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts Glume
Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet; similar to fertile lemma in texture; shiny; gaping. Lower glume lanceolate; 1.8-2.5 mm long; 0.7-0.8 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume primary vein scabrous. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute; mucronate. Upper glume obovate; 2.3-3.5 mm long; 0.9-1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Upper glume primary vein scabrous. Upper glume apex acute; mucronate.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Florets
Fertile lemma oblong; 2.5-3.5 mm long; membranous; shiny; keeled; keeled above; 3(-5) -veined. Lemma surface puberulous. Lemma apex acute. Palea gaping; 1 length of lemma. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
Lodicules 2; oblong; membranous; 2-toothed. Anthers 3; 0.9-1.5 mm long. Ovary glabrous.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; fusiform; 2 mm long.
Distribution
Europe: southwestern. Africa: north.
Reference
Aveneae. Gr Extremad 1993.
[GB]

Sources

  • 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/

  • Kew Backbone Distributions

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2023. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2022 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 2023. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2022 International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0