Pringleochloa

HABIT Perennial. Stolons present. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades stiff.

INFLORESCENCE Monoecious, or dioecious. Inflorescence composed of racemes; embraced at base by subtending leaf.

Racemes borne along a central axis; in a head; cuneate; unilateral; bearing few fertile spikelets; bearing 2–4 fertile spikelets on each. Rhachis deciduous from axis; terminating in a barren extension; extension subulate.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile. Male spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets elliptic; dorsally compressed; 4–6 mm long; falling entire; deciduous with accessory branch structures.

GLUMES Glumes collateral; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume linear; 0.66 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume surface without pits; pilose. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; 1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Upper glume surface pilose. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile florets female. Fertile lemma elliptic; cartilaginous; without keel; wingless; 3 -veined. Lemma surface unwrinkled; without grooves; puberulous. Lemma margins ciliate. Lemma apex lobed; 3 -fid; incised 0.33 of lemma length; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn from a sinus. Apical sterile florets 2–3 in number; in a clump; rudimentary. Apical sterile lemmas awned. Apical sterile lemma awns ciliate.

MALE Male inflorescence terminal; unlike female; of racemes along a central axis; with pectinate racemes. Male spikelets distinct from female; lanceolate. 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.