Neobouteloua

HABIT Perennial. Culms erect; 10–19–30 cm long. Ligule a ciliate membrane (1), or a fringe of hairs (1). Leaf-blades coriaceous; stiff.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes borne along a central axis; unilateral; bearing 15–20 fertile spikelets on each (1/1). Rhachis semiterete (1/1).

Spikelets appressed; solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile (1), or pedicelled (1).

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets cuneate; laterally compressed; 3–4.375–6 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus pubescent (1/1).

GLUMES Glumes persistent; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume elliptic (1), or ovate (1); 0.75–0.875–1 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume surface without pits. Lower glume apex acute; muticous (1), or mucronate (1). Upper glume elliptic (1), or ovate (1); 0.75–1.125–1.5 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume apex acuminate (1), or setaceously attenuate (1).

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; membranous; without keel; wingless; 3 -veined. Lemma surface unwrinkled; without grooves; pubescent (1), or pilose (1). Lemma margins eciliate (1), or ciliate (1). Lemma apex dentate; 3 -fid; awned; 3 -awned. Lateral lemma awns shorter than principal. Apical sterile florets 4 in number, or 5 in number (1); barren; in a clump; ovate. Apical sterile lemmas awned.

FLOWER Lodicules 2 (1/1); truncate (1/1). Anthers 3 (1/1).

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; ellipsoid (1), or ovoid (1); dorsally compressed (1/1); trigonous (1/1). Embryo 0.25–0.4375–0.75 length of caryopsis. Hilum elliptic (1/1).

DISTRIBUTION South America.

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