Bothriochloa velutina

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Rhizomes elongated. Culms erect; 80–120 cm long; 5–8 -noded. Culm-internodes distally glabrous. Culm-nodes bearded. Leaf-sheaths mostly shorter than adjacent culm internode; pubescent; outer margin hairy. Leaf-sheath oral hairs ciliate. Ligule a ciliolate membrane; 2–5 mm long; pubescent on abaxial surface; obtuse. Leaf-blades 10–29 cm long; 3–13 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface pubescent; hairy on both sides. Leaf-blade margins scabrous. Leaf-blade apex attenuate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes. Peduncle 21–36 cm long; glabrous.

Racemes numerous; borne along a central axis; 5–10 cm long. Central inflorescence axis 7 cm long. Rhachis fragile at the nodes; flattened; plumose on margins. Rhachis hairs 7–9 mm long. Rhachis internodes linear; 2.1–3.3 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; 2.4–3.8 mm long; with a translucent median line (also present in internodes); plumose; with 7.3–10.9 mm long hairs.

STERILE SPIKELETS Companion sterile spikelets well-developed; containing empty lemmas; linear; 3.1–3.8 mm long; as long as fertile. Companion sterile spikelet glumes chartaceous; puberulous (on keels); dentate; 2 -fid. Companion sterile spikelet lemmas 1; enclosed by glumes; 1.5 mm long.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; dorsally compressed; 3.4–3.9 mm long; falling entire; deciduous with accessory branch structures. Spikelet callus bearded; base obtuse; attached transversely. Spikelet callus hairs 2–3 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; 5–8 -veined. Lower glume primary vein scaberulous (above). Lower glume surface flat; pubescent. 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; 2.1–2.5 mm long; hyaline; entire, or dentate. Fertile lemma linear; 1.9–2.4 mm long; hyaline; without keel. Lemma apex entire; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn apical; geniculate; 12.3–18 mm long overall; with twisted column. Column of lemma awn 0.9–3 mm long; glabrous. Palea present, or absent or minute; elliptic; 0–0.8 mm long; hyaline.

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

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; ellipsoid; 2 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.