Arthropogon villosus

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Butt sheaths thickened and forming a bulb. Culms geniculately ascending, or decumbent; 50–100 cm long. Ligule a fringe of hairs; 1 mm long. Leaf-blades 10–28 cm long; 5–10 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; 6–12 cm long.

Spikelets solitary, or in pairs. Fertile spikelets pedicelled; 1–2 in the cluster. Pedicels filiform; 2–12 mm long.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 4–6 mm long; falling entire. Spikelet callus bearded. Spikelet callus hairs 0.3–0.6 length of spikelet.

GLUMES Glumes dissimilar; reaching apex of florets; firmer than fertile lemma. Lower glume subulate; 3–7 mm long. Upper glume ovate; 1 length of spikelet; coriaceous; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex entire, or dentate; 2 -fid; awned; 1 -awned. Upper glume awn 2–4 mm long.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets male; with palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; oblong; 1 length of spikelet; coriaceous; 3 -veined; scabrous; rough above; obtuse. Fertile lemma linear; 3–5 mm long; membranous; without keel; 1 -veined. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea separating from lemma above; 0.66 length of lemma; hyaline; 0 -veined; without keels.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; cuneate; fleshy. Anthers 3. Stigmas 2.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; 4 mm long. Embryo 0.5 length of caryopsis.

DISTRIBUTION South America: western South America and Brazil.

NOTES Paniceae. WDC.

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