Poaceae

A. gigantea Roth, Tent. Fl. Germ. 1:31 (1788). Ic: Fl. Iraq 9:283, t. 100 (1968);Hubbard, Grasses ed. 2:302(1968). Map 68.
Loosely tufted perennial with numerous creeping rhizomes. Stems 40-90 (-120) cm, erect or geniculately ascending from base, occasionally procumbent at base, slender to stout, smooth and glabrous. Leaf sheaths glabrous; ligule 1.5-4(-6) mm, obtuse at apex, toothed when mature; blades 3.5-20 cm x 1.3-5 (-8) mm, linear, acuminate, flat, dull green, glabrous to slightly scabrid, firm. Panicle 6-28 x 1-12 cm, usually pyramidal, very lax; branches to 9 cm, aculeo-late; pedicels 0.7-3.5 mm, clavate. Spikelets 2-3.5 mm, lanceolate, dark purple to brownish. Glumes subequal, lanceolate, acute, dorsally aculeolate. Lemma 1.6-2.5 mm, ovate to oblong, truncate at apex, minutely hairy at base, usually awnless, with a somewhat subterminal awn. Palea 1/4-2/3 as long as lemma. Anthers 1-1.5 mm. Fl. 7-8. Marshy ground, on sand of river bed, mountain slopes, nr s. 1.-2350 m.
Type: [Germany] inter arundinem et salices ad ripas Visurgis Ducatus Bremensis, Roth (holo. Nat. Hist. Mus. Oldenburg). Mainly N. & E. Anatolia. A2(E) Istanbul: Rumeli Hisar, 22 viii 1937, B. Post! A2(A) Istanbul: Aydos, A. Baytop (ISTE 4129)! A4 Kastamonu: İlgaz Da., 1525 m, Furse 4171! A6 Ordu: Çambaşi, 2200 m, Tobey 1425! A8 Trabzon: N. side of Soğanli Da. above Çaykara, 2000-2200 m, D. 32161! Rize: d. Ikizdere, Yetimhoca (Cimil), 2100 m, D. 21007! Gümüşane: 65 km S.E. of Bayburt, 2300 m, Spencer 0201! Çoruh: Borçka, Tong 487! B6 Sivas: d. Gürün, Gök Pinar, 1600 m, Sorger 77-101-14! B8 Erzurum: Palandöken Da., 25 km from Çat to Erzurum, 2350m, D.47378! C9Van: 50 km from Başkale to Cölemerik (Hakkari), 1800 m, McNeill 697!
Europe to E. Asia. Introduced in N. America and New Zealand. Euro-Sib, element.