Bothriochloa meridionalis

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect; 35–125 cm long; 4–10 -noded. Culm-internodes distally glabrous. Culm-nodes pubescent. Leaf-sheaths mostly shorter than adjacent culm internode. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1.4–5 mm long; glabrous on abaxial surface; truncate, or obtuse, or acute. Leaf-blades 6.5–16.5 cm long; 2–6.8 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous. Leaf-blade apex attenuate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes. Peduncle 7–36 cm long; glabrous.

Racemes numerous; borne along a central axis; 2.5–7.5 cm long. Central inflorescence axis 2–4 cm long. Rhachis fragile at the nodes; flattened; plumose on margins. Rhachis hairs 6–8.2 mm long. Rhachis internodes linear; 2.6–3.6 mm long. Rhachis internode tip transverse.

Spikelets in pairs. Fertile spikelets sessile; 1 in the cluster. Companion sterile spikelets pedicelled; 1 in the cluster. Pedicels linear; flattened; with a translucent median line (also present in internodes); plumose.

STERILE SPIKELETS Companion sterile spikelets well-developed; containing empty lemmas; elliptic; 3.8–5.2 mm long; as long as fertile. Companion sterile spikelet glumes chartaceous; puberulous (on keels); ciliolate on margins; dentate; 2 -fid. Companion sterile spikelet lemmas 1; enclosed by glumes; 2.1–3 mm long.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; dorsally compressed; 4.6–5.5 mm long; falling entire; deciduous with accessory branch structures. Spikelet callus bearded; base obtuse; attached transversely. Spikelet callus hairs 2.3–3.9 mm long.

GLUMES Glumes dissimilar; exceeding apex of florets; firmer than fertile lemma. Lower glume elliptic; 1 length of spikelet; cartilaginous; without keels; keel-less except near apex; 8–10 -veined. Lower glume primary vein scaberulous (above). Lower glume surface flat. Lower glume apex dentate; 2 -fid. Upper glume elliptic; 1 length of spikelet; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Upper glume primary vein scabrous. Upper glume margins ciliolate. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret lanceolate; 2.6–3.1 mm long; hyaline; erose. Fertile lemma linear; 2.1–3 mm long; hyaline; without keel. Lemma apex entire; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn apical; geniculate; 14.3–20 mm long overall; with twisted column. Column of lemma awn 2.7–5.8 mm long; glabrous. Palea elliptic; 1–1.6 mm long; hyaline.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; 0.6–0.8 mm long. Anthers 3; 0.9–1 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; obovoid; 2.1–2.7 mm long; light brown.

DISTRIBUTION South America: Brazil.

NOTES Andropogoneae. Marchi & L.-Wag. 2004.

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