Poaceae
Alopecurus

Alopecurus heleochloides Hack.

First published in Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. 10: 166 (1911)
This species is accepted
The native range of this species is Central & S. Chile. It is an annual and grows primarily in the temperate biome.

Descriptions

Morphology General Habit
Annual; caespitose. Culms geniculately ascending; 3-8 cm long; 2-3 -noded. Culm-internodes distally glabrous. Lateral branches lacking. Leaf-sheaths mostly shorter than adjacent culm internode; glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 2-3 mm long; obtuse, or acute. Leaf-blades 4-10 cm long; 2-3 mm wide; flaccid. Leaf-blade surface scaberulous; glabrous. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescence a panicle; shorter than basal leaves; subtended by an inflated leaf-sheath; embraced at base by subtending leaf. Panicle spiciform; ovate; loose; 1-1.5 cm long; 0.6-0.8 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; glabrous.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Spikelets
Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; truncate; 3 mm long; 1.5 mm wide; falling entire.
Fertile
Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; truncate; 3 mm long; 1.5 mm wide; falling entire.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts Glume
Glumes free; similar; shorter than spikelet, or reaching apex of florets; recurved at apex. Lower glume oblong; 3 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; much thinner above; much thinner on margins; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Lower glume primary vein ciliolate. Lower glume lateral veins distinct; convergent at apex. Lower glume surface hispidulous; hairy on veins. Lower glume apex obtuse. Upper glume oblong; 3 mm long; 0.9-1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; much thinner above; with hyaline margins; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Upper glume primary vein ciliolate. Upper glume lateral veins convergent at apex. Upper glume surface hispidulous; hairy on veins. Upper glume apex obtuse.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Florets
Fertile lemma oblong; 3 mm long; membranous; keeled; 5 -veined. Lemma margins connate below; with 0.75-0.8 of their length connate. Lemma apex obtuse; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn dorsal; arising 0.5-0.6 way up back of lemma; straight; 1-1.5 mm long overall; not or scarcely exserted from spikelet. Palea absent or minute.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
Lodicules absent. Anthers 2; 1 mm long. Ovary glabrous.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Disseminule comprising a spikelet.
Distribution
South America: southern South America.
Reference
Aveneae. Hackel 1996.
[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