Poaceae
Alopecurus

Alopecurus alopecuroides (L.) L.J.Gillespie, Cabi & Soreng

First published in J. Syst. Evol. 60: 612 (2022 publ. 2021)
This species is accepted
The native range of this species is Syria to Israel. It is an annual and grows primarily in the subtropical biome.

Descriptions

Morphology General Habit
Annual. Culms geniculately ascending, or decumbent; 6-20 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades 4-12 cm long; 1-3 mm wide.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescence a panicle; terminal and axillary; deciduous as a whole; subtended by an inflated leaf-sheath; embraced at base by subtending leaf. Peduncle straight (inflated); expanded into a conical flask at apex (5-6mm long, entire or crenate); disarticulating; disarticulating above uppermost sheath; base blunt. Panicle capitate; ovate, or globose; 0.8-2 cm long; 0.5-1 cm wide. Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Spikelets
Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 6-7.5 mm long; falling entire; deciduous with accessory branch structures.
Fertile
Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 6-7.5 mm long; falling entire; deciduous with accessory branch structures.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts Glume
Glumes connate along margins below (to the middle); similar; exceeding apex of florets; shiny. Lower glume oblong; 6-7 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Lower glume primary vein ciliate. Lower glume surface pubescent; hairy on veins. Lower glume apex acute; mucronate. Upper glume oblong; 6-7 mm long; 1.1-1.2 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Upper glume primary vein ciliate. Upper glume surface pubescent; hairy on veins. Upper glume apex acute; mucronate.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Florets
Fertile lemma ovate; 5-6 mm long; membranous; shiny; keeled; 5 -veined. Lemma margins connate below. Lemma apex truncate; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn dorsal; arising 0.1 way up back of lemma; geniculate; 12-15 mm long overall; clearly exserted from spikelet; with twisted column. Palea absent or minute.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
Lodicules absent. Anthers 3. Ovary glabrous.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Hilum punctiform.
Distribution
Asia-temperate: western Asia.
Reference
Aveneae. Fl Pal.
[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

  • Kew Science Photographs

    • Copyright applied to individual images