Acostia gracilis

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms 25–40 cm long. Ligule a ciliolate membrane; 1 mm long. Leaf-blades 7–13 cm long; 3–4 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous. Leaf-blade margins scabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 3–4; borne along a central axis; unilateral; 3–4.5 cm long. Central inflorescence axis 7–12 cm long. Rhachis angular.

Spikelets solitary, or in pairs. Fertile spikelets pedicelled; 1–2 in the cluster. Pedicels linear; unequal; 2 mm long; scabrous.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; dorsally compressed; acuminate; 2–2.5 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes one the lower absent or obscure; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Upper glume lanceolate; membranous; without keels; 5 -veined. Upper glume surface pubescent. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; lanceolate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 5 -veined; pubescent; acuminate. Fertile lemma elliptic; 1.7 mm long; coriaceous. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea coriaceous.

FRUIT Disseminule comprising a spikelet.

DISTRIBUTION South America: western South America.

NOTES Paniceae. WDC.

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