Holcus lanatus L.
Family: Poaceae, Tribe: Aveneae

Pertinent Synonyms & Notes (particularly those used in California; go to GRIN for other synonyms)

Avena lanata (L.) Koeler, Avena pallida Salisb.

Pertinent Common Names (particularly those used in California; go to GRIN for other common names)

common velvetgrass

Primary Disseminule Type

spikelet

Description (diagnostics are in brown)

Spikelets solitary, pedicelled (pedicel 1–4 mm long), elliptic, laterally compressed, 4–6 mm long, consisting of 1 basal fertile floret and 1 sterile floret. Disarticulation occurs below glumes.

Glumes similar, 4–6 mm long, exceeding apex of florets (2 lengths of adjacent fertile lemma), membranous (thinner than fertile lemma), whitish-green, often purple over the veins and towards the apices, keeled, surface asperulous. Lower glume lanceolate, 1-veined, midvein ciliate, apex obtuse or acute. Upper glume elliptic, surface pubescent, 3-veined, veins hairy, apex obtuse, somewhat bifid, mucronate or awned to 1.5 mm long.

Fertile floret: rachilla long, glabrous, connected to an apical sterile floret, callus pilose (hairs few, to 1 mm long).

Fertile lemma elliptic, 2–2.7 mm long, cartilaginous, shiny, keeled above, 3–5-veined (lateral veins obscure), apex obtuse, awnless.

Fertile palea same length as lemma, keels sparsely short-ciliate above, apex obtusely lobed, minutely ciliate.

Sterile lemma elliptic, 2–2.7 mm long, apex shallowly bifid, awn 1–3 mm long, inserted ca. 0.4 mm below lemma tip, often purple-tipped, slightly twisted and strongly hooked at maturity.

Caryopsis ovate to lanceolate, laterally compressed, 1–1.5 mm long x 0.4–0.5 mm wide, brown, embryo <0.33 length of caryopsis, hilum short or rarely long linear, sitting in longitudinal groove.

Risk Assessment (codes in yellow or red indicate cause for concern; assessments are current as of mid-2011; click AUQP, NZBORIC, or NZBPI for access to the most recent versions of these databases and possible assessment changes)

AUQP, NZBORIC, NZBPI