Froesiochloa

HABIT Perennial. Culms erect; 20–30 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blade base with a brief petiole-like connection to sheath. Leaf-blades ovate. Leaf-blade venation with obscure cross veins.

INFLORESCENCE Monoecious; with male and female spikelets in the same inflorescence. Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes borne along a central axis; lanceolate; unilateral; bearing few fertile spikelets; bearing 1 fertile spikelets on each. Rhachis deciduous from axis; flattened.

Sexes segregated; on bisexual branches; with male below. Spikelets ascending; solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Male spikelets sessile; 6–10 in a cluster. Pedicels cuneate.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; dorsally compressed; 12.45–18 mm long; falling entire; deciduous with accessory branch structures.

GLUMES Glumes exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 1 length of upper glume; herbaceous; without keels; 5–9 -veined. Lower glume surface without pits. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume ovate; 2.5 length of adjacent fertile lemma; herbaceous; without keels; 5–9 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins with cross-veins. Upper glume apex acuminate; awned; 1 -awned.

FLORETS Fertile florets female. Fertile lemma elliptic; indurate; without keel; wingless. Lemma surface unwrinkled; without grooves; pubescent. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex acute. Palea indurate; without keels.

FLOWER Anthers 3.

MALE Male spikelets distinct from female; lanceolate. Male spikelet glumes absent. Male spikelet lemma awned.

DISTRIBUTION South America.

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