Oplismenopsis

HABIT Perennial. Culms prostrate; 30–60 cm long; spongy; rooting from lower nodes. Ligule a ciliolate membrane. Leaf-blades lanceolate, or oblong.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes borne along a central axis; unilateral. Rhachis angular. Spikelet packing adaxial; lax.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels oblong.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; dorsally compressed; 6–8.5 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes shorter than spikelet, or reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Lower glume surface without pits. Lower glume apex acuminate; awned. Upper glume elliptic; 1.25 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 5–7 -veined. Upper glume apex acuminate; awned; 1 -awned.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets male; with palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret elliptic; membranous; 5 -veined; acute, or acuminate; muticous, or awned. Fertile lemma elliptic; coriaceous; without keel; wingless; 5 -veined. Lemma surface unwrinkled; without grooves. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex acute. Palea coriaceous.

FRUIT Hilum linear.

DISTRIBUTION South America.

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