Sohnsia

HABIT Perennial. Culms 30–100 cm long. Ligule a ciliate membrane.

INFLORESCENCE Dioecious. Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels filiform.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2–3 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 10–12 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating above glumes but not between florets. Rhachilla internodes definite. Floret callus pilose.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 0.9 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume surface asperulous; without pits. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 0.75–1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume surface asperulous. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile florets female. Fertile lemma elliptic; coriaceous; much thinner above; without keel; wingless; 3 -veined. Lemma midvein ciliate. Lemma surface unwrinkled; without grooves. Lemma margins ciliate. Lemma apex lobed; 3 -fid; incised 0.25 of lemma length; awned; 3 -awned. Principal lemma awn from a sinus. Lateral lemma awns subequal to principal. Palea 1 length of lemma; 2 -veined. Palea keels winged. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Anthers 3.

MALE Male inflorescence similar to female; a panicle. Male spikelets distinct from female; ovate. Male spikelet glumes 2. Male spikelet lemma awned.

DISTRIBUTION North America.

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