Aciachne acicularis

HABIT Perennial; cushion forming. Culms 1–3 cm long. Lateral branches ample. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.7 mm long. Leaf-blades aciculate; conduplicate; 0.4–1 cm long; 0.3–0.4 mm wide; stiff. Leaf-blade venation comprising 3 vascular bundles; with 3 secondary veins. Leaf-blade surface pubescent; hairy adaxially. Leaf-blade apex acute; pungent.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence comprising only a few spikelets; comprising 1–3 fertile spikelets; shorter than basal leaves.

Spikelets solitary.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; subterete; 4–4.6 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus glabrous; truncate.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet; similar to fertile lemma in texture. Lower glume ovate; 1.8–2.2 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; coriaceous; without keels; 3–5 -veined. Lower glume apex obtuse. Upper glume ovate; 1.8–2.2 mm long; 0.5 length of adjacent fertile lemma; coriaceous; without keels; 3–5 -veined. Upper glume apex obtuse.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; subterete; lanceolate in profile; 4–4.6 mm long; coriaceous; shiny; without keel; 3 -veined. Lemma margins convolute; covering most of palea. Lemma apex rostrate. Palea coriaceous; 2 -veined; without keels.

FLOWER Lodicules 3; membranous; veinless. Anthers 3. Stigmas 2.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Hilum punctiform. Disseminule comprising a floret.

DISTRIBUTION South America: Mesoamericana, western South America, and southern South America.

NOTES Stipeae. Fl Meso-Am 1995.

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