Citation: C. Gmelin, Fl. Bad. 1:8 (1806).

Derivation: After J. S. Vulpius, 1760-1840, a German-chemist.

Synonymy: Not Applicable

Common name: None

Description:
Glabrous annuals; leaves short, flat, convolute when dry; ligule very short, truncate.

Inflorescence a little-branched 1-sided panicle; spikelets compressed laterally, spreading fan-wise at the summit, with 3-12 rather distant and divergent stipitate florets; rhachilla disarticulating; glumes persistent, very unequal, acute, the first small and 1-nerved, the second keeled and l-3-nerved; lemmas with prominent callus, subulate, firm, narrow, rounded on the back, obscurely 5-nerved, terminating in a conspicuous slender straight awn.

Distribution:  About 28 species from Europe, particularly the western Mediterranean, and the Americas.

Biology: Poor fodder, generally considered weedy in pastures, uncommon in crops apart from V. fasciculata which is a vigorous competitor of crops and pastures in sandy country. (Cotton & Stace (1977) Bot. Notis. 130:173-187.)

Key to Species:

1. Lemma with a pointed callus, c. 0.8 mm long	V. fasciculata 3.
1. Lemma with a rounded callus, c. 0.2 mm diam
2. Lemma margins with prominent cilia
3. Cilia along the full length of the lemma margin	V. ciliata 2.
3. Cilia confined to the upper third of the lemma margin	V. megalura 4.
2. Lemma margins without cilia
4. Upper glume at least four times as long as the lower glume; leaf sheaths covering the stems to the base of the panicle	V. myuros 6.
4. Upper glume about twice as long as the lower glume; panicle well exserted beyond the leaf sheaths
5. Lower glume to 2 mm long; lemma awn about twice as long as the lemma	V. muralis 5.
5. Lower glume from 3 mm long; lemma awn about as long as the lemma	V. bromoides 1.

Author: Prepared by P.M. Kloot