Common name: Timothy
Phleum pratense L. APNI*
Description: Loose or densely tufted perennial to 1.5 m high.
Leaves with ligule membranous, 1–3 mm long, obtuse; blade flat, to 0.8 mm wide, glabrous.
Inflorescence spicate, dense, cylindrical, 2–13 cm long, to 1 cm wide. Spikelets c. 3 mm long (excluding awn), c. 1 mm wide, laterally compressed, sessile or on pedicels < 0.5 mm long, florets 1. Glumes 2–3 mm long (excluding awn), truncate, 3-nerved, nerves extending into an awn, keel hirsute with hairs c. 1 mm long, scabrous, glabrous; awn stout, 1–1.5 mm long; lower glume margins villous with hairs c. 0.5 mm long, upper glume margins scabrous. Lemma 1–1.5 mm long, truncate, erose, keel scabrous and extended as a mucro. Palea slightly shorter than lemma, obtuse, 2-nerved.
Flowering: spring.
Distribution and occurrence: Planted as a pasture and hay plant, on heavy, moist soils of cool regions. Native of Medit region.
NSW subdivisions: *CC, *SC, *NT, *CT, *ST, *SWS, *NWP
Other Australian states: *Vic. *Tas. *W.A. *S.A.
Text by S. W. L. Jacobs & K. L. McClay Taxon concept: Flora of NSW 4 (1993)
APNI* Provides a link to the Australian Plant Name Index (hosted by the Australian National Botanic Gardens) for comprehensive bibliographic data ***The AVH map option provides a detailed interactive Australia wide distribution map drawn from collections held by all major Australian herbaria participating in the Australian Virtual Herbarium project.
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