Relatives

Arrhenaterum elatius (L.) J.&C.Presl - False Oatgrass.

Systematic position.

Family Poaceae Barnhart Genera Arrhenaterum Beauv.

Morphology and biology.

Perennial grass; Height up to 50-100 (130) cm, sparse tussock. Leaf is to 10 mm wide, plane, rough, often pubescent. Lingula of leaf is obtuse and 1-2.5 mm in length. Inflorescence is a sprawling panicle, 8-25 cm length. Spikelet is 7-9 cm in length. It has two flowers, lower flower is diclinous (stamined) or neutral. Lower floral glume is lanceolate, with 7 nerves, without carina, with geniculate awn. Upper floral glume with short or absent awn. Anther is about 4.5 mm in length. Cross-pollinated, wind-pollinated. Flowering - June - August. Seed and vegetative (mainly) reproduction. Chromosomal number 2n=14,28,42.

Distribution.

European part of Former USSR (except northern regions), Caucasia, Western Siberia (region of Ob. river (Tzvelev, 1976)), Far East (invasion) and Middle Asia (invasion); Scandinavia (south), Atlantic and Middle Europe, Mediterranean, Asia Minor, Iran (north); invasive or introduce in several other countries.

Ecology.

Species occurs in meadows, damp forest openings, often adventitious and introduced. It occurs on different types of soils. It is frost resistant.

Economic value.

Forage, used for making hay. It recovers quickly after grazing. It is sown in mixtures with other species, because it is not palatable to cattle (bitter).

Reference Citations:

Cherepanov S.K. 1988. List of Vascular Plants of Russia (Plantae Vasculares Rossicae et Civitatum Collimitanearum (in limics USSR olim)). St. Petersburg: Mir I Semia. 990 pp. (In Russian)
Gubanov I.A., Kiseleva K.V., Novikov V.S., Tychomirov V.N. 2002. Illustrated determinant of plants of Middle Russia. Moscow. V.1: 526. (In Russian)
Tzvelev N.N. 1976. Poaceae USSR. Leningrad: Nauka. 788 pp. (In Russian)

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