Aegopogon solisii

HABIT Annual; caespitose. Culms decumbent; slender; 5–20 cm long; rooting from lower nodes. Culm-internodes distally glabrous. Lateral branches sparse; arising from lower culm. Leaves cauline. Leaf-sheaths smooth; glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.7–1 mm long; lacerate. Leaf-blades 2–6 cm long; 0.8–1.2 mm wide; flaccid. Leaf-blade surface scaberulous; rough adaxially, or on both sides; glabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 18–30; borne along a central axis; spreading; cuneate; unilateral; 0.15–0.2 cm long; bearing a triad of spikelets. Central inflorescence axis 2.5–4 cm long. Rhachis obsolete; deciduous from axis. Raceme-bases cuneate; pubescent; shed with the raceme; acute.

Spikelets in threes. Fertile spikelets sessile; 1 in the cluster. Companion sterile spikelets pedicelled; 2 in the cluster. Pedicels oblong; 0.8–1 mm long; pubescent.

STERILE SPIKELETS Companion sterile spikelets well-developed; containing empty lemmas, or male; lanceolate; laterally compressed; 0.5–0.8 mm long; shorter than fertile; deciduous with the fertile. Companion sterile spikelet glumes membranous; 0.3–0.5 mm long; scaberulous; glabrous; lobed; 2 -fid; awned; one glume awned; with 0.4–0.6 mm long awn. Companion sterile spikelet lemmas 1; exserted from glumes; 0.5–0.8 mm long; lobed; 1-awned; with 1–1.3 mm long awn.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; laterally compressed; 1.5–1.8 mm long; falling entire; deciduous with accessory branch structures.

GLUMES Glumes similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume cuneate; 0.8–1 mm long; 0.8 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume surface pubescent. Lower glume apex lobed; 2 -fid; obtuse; awned; 1 -awned. Lower glume awn 0.7–1.1 mm long. Upper glume cuneate; 0.9–1.1 mm long; 0.6 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume surface pubescent. Upper glume apex lobed; 2 -fid; obtuse; awned; 1 -awned. Upper glume awn 0.7–1.1 mm long.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; laterally compressed; lanceolate in profile; 1.5–1.8 mm long; membranous; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma surface puberulous. Lemma apex lobed; 2 -fid; acuminate; awned; 3 -awned. Principal lemma awn from a sinus; 4.5–5 mm long overall. Lateral lemma awns arising on inner edge of lobes; 0.8–0.9 mm long; shorter than principal. Palea lanceolate; 1 length of lemma; 2 -veined. Palea keels contiguous above a sulcus. Palea surface puberulous. Palea apex dentate; 2 -fid; acute; awned; awns 0.6–0.8 mm long.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 0.5–0.8 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; fusiform; isodiametric; biconvex; 0.9–1 mm long. Disseminule comprising a branch.

DISTRIBUTION North America: Mexico.

NOTES Cynodonteae. Fl Isla Socorro 2004.

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