Buchloe

HABIT Perennial. Stolons present. Culms 5–10 cm long. Ligule a fringe of hairs.

INFLORESCENCE Monoecious, or dioecious. Inflorescence composed of racemes; subtended by an inflated leaf-sheath; embraced at base by subtending leaf.

Racemes paired; globose; unilateral; bearing few fertile spikelets; bearing 3–5 fertile spikelets on each. Rhachis obsolete; deciduous from axis.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile. Male spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets ovate; dorsally compressed; 3–4 mm long; falling entire; deciduous with accessory branch structures.

GLUMES Glumes one the lower absent or obscure, or two; exceeding apex of florets; firmer than fertile lemma. Lower glume oblong; 0–0.5 length of upper glume; membranous. Lower glume surface without pits. Upper glume ovate; indurate; without keels; 7 -veined. Upper glume apex lobed; 3 -fid; acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile florets female. Fertile lemma ovate; dorsally compressed; membranous; without keel; wingless; 3 -veined. Lemma surface unwrinkled; without grooves. Lemma apex lobed; 3 -fid; incised 0.5 of lemma length. Palea 0.5 length of lemma; 2 -veined. Palea keels scaberulous.

FLOWER Anthers 3.

FRUIT Caryopsis oblong, or ovoid. Embryo 0.9 length of caryopsis.

MALE Male inflorescence terminal; unlike female; of racemes along a central axis; with pectinate racemes. Male spikelets distinct from female; ovate. Male spikelet glumes 2. Male spikelet lemma muticous.

DISTRIBUTION North America.

Please cite this publication as detailed in How to Cite Version: 3rd February 2016.