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GrassBase - The Online World Grass Flora
Descriptions
W.D. Clayton, M. Vorontsova, K.T. Harman & H. Williamson
© Copyright The Board of Trustees, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
Arthropogon xerachne
HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Butt sheaths papery; persistent and investing base of culm; with curly dead sheaths. Culms 30–60 cm long. Culm-nodes constricted; pubescent. Leaves mostly basal. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1 mm long. Leaf-blades 5–20 cm long; 2–5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface pilose.
INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.
Panicle contracted; oblong; 6–12 cm long.
Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels filiform; 17–33 mm long; scabrous.
FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; laterally compressed; 7–9 mm long; 2–3 mm wide; falling entire. Spikelet callus bearded. Spikelet callus hairs 0.5–0.66 length of spikelet.
GLUMES Glumes dissimilar; reaching apex of florets; firmer than fertile lemma. Lower glume linear; 10–13 mm long; 0.5–0.75 length of spikelet; coriaceous; without keels; 3 -veined. Lower glume apex awned; 1 -awned. Lower glume awn 8 mm long. Upper glume oblong; 1 length of spikelet; coriaceous; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex dentate; 2 -fid; awned; 1 -awned. Upper glume awn 7–8 mm long.
FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; with palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; oblong; 1 length of spikelet; coriaceous; 3 -veined; dentate; 2 -fid; obtuse; awned. Awn of lower sterile floret 3–4 mm long. Fertile lemma linear; membranous; without keel; 1 -veined. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea absent or minute.
FLOWER Lodicules 2; cuneate; fleshy. Anthers 3. Stigmas 2.
FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.
DISTRIBUTION South America: Brazil.
NOTES Paniceae. Filgueiras.
Please cite this publication as detailed in How to Cite Version: 3rd February 2016.