Blepharidachne kingii

HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped densely. Culms 3–10 cm long. Lateral branches sparse. Leaf-sheaths longer than adjacent culm internode. Leaf-sheath oral hairs bearded. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades curved; aciculate; involute; 1–2 cm long; 0.5 mm wide; coriaceous; stiff. Leaf-blade surface ribbed; scaberulous. Leaf-blade apex acute; pungent.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle; shorter than basal leaves; embraced at base by subtending leaf.

Panicle capitate; oblong; 1–2 cm long; bearing few spikelets. Panicle axis pubescent.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets cuneate; laterally compressed; 6.5–8.5 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus pubescent.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate, or elliptic; 6.5–8.5 mm long; 0.9 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate, or elliptic; 6.5–8.5 mm long; 1.1–1.4 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets similar; barren; with palea; attached to and deciduous with the fertile. Lemma of lower sterile floret oblong; 6 mm long; 1 length of fertile lemma; chartaceous; 3 -veined; pubescent; hairy below; ciliate on margins; lobed; 2 -fid; obtuse; awned (1 awn). Awn of lower sterile floret 3 mm long. Fertile lemma oblong; not gibbous; 6 mm long; cartilaginous; without keel; 3 -veined. Lemma lateral veins close to margins. Lemma surface pubescent; hairy below. Lemma margins ciliate. Lemma apex lobed; 2 -fid; incised 0.5 of lemma length; obtuse; awned; 3 -awned. Principal lemma awn from a sinus; 2–4 mm long overall; limb ciliate. Lateral lemma awns arising on outer edge of lobes; 0.5 mm long; shorter than principal. Palea 1 length of lemma; 2 -veined. Palea keels approximate; ciliolate. Apical sterile florets 1 in number; barren; rudimentary. Apical sterile lemmas awned; 3 -awned. Apical sterile lemma awns 2.5–3 mm long; ciliate.

FLOWER Lodicules absent. Anthers 2.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Embryo projecting below grain.

DISTRIBUTION North America: southwest USA.

NOTES Eragrostideae. WDC.

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