Blepharoneuron shepherdii

HABIT Annual. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending; 16–40 cm long; 0.3–0.6 mm diam. Culm-internodes 2.2–5 cm long; scaberulous. Leaf-sheaths 3.2–9 cm long; longer than adjacent culm internode; glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1.4–2.8 mm long; erose, or lacerate; truncate, or obtuse. Leaf-blades flat, or involute; 4–8.5 cm long; 0.8–2 mm wide. Leaf-blade midrib prominent beneath. Leaf-blade surface smooth, or scaberulous; rough abaxially; pubescent; hairy adaxially.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; obovate; effuse; 8–18 cm long; 2.7–7 cm wide. Primary panicle branches ascending, or spreading; 1–2 -nate; 3–6 cm long. Panicle branches capillary.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels filiform; 7–12 mm long.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; with terminal spikelet tilted on the pedicel; laterally compressed; 1.3–1.7 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; reaching apex of florets. Lower glume elliptic, or oblong; 0.7–1.6 mm long; 0.75–0.9 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume elliptic, or oblong; 1–1.7 mm long; 1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 1.3–1.7 mm long; membranous; without keel; 3 -veined. Lemma midvein ciliate. Lemma margins ciliate. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea 1.2–1.7 mm long; 1 length of lemma; 2 -veined. Palea surface pilose; hairy on back.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 0.8–1.4 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; 1–1.7 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION North America: Mexico.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Peterson 1994.

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