Bouteloua chondrosioides

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect; 30–60 cm long. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades 2–6 cm long; 1–2.5 mm wide; stiff. Leaf-blade surface pubescent; hairy abaxially.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 4–6; borne along a central axis; ascending; oblong; unilateral; 1–1.5 cm long. Central inflorescence axis 4 cm long. Rhachis deciduous from axis; angular; villous on surface; terminating in a barren extension; extension subulate. Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis.

Spikelets pectinate; solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets cuneate; laterally compressed; 6 mm long; falling entire; deciduous with accessory branch structures.

GLUMES Glumes similar; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma; gaping. Lower glume lanceolate; 3 mm long; 0.75 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume surface villous. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; 4 mm long; 0.66 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume surface villous. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 6 mm long; coriaceous; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma surface villous. Lemma apex lobed; 3 -fid; with simple equal lobes; incised 0.33 of lemma length; mucronate. Palea keels puberulous. Palea surface villous; hairy on flanks. Palea apex with excurrent keel veins. Rhachilla extension glabrous. Apical sterile florets 1 in number; barren; rudimentary. Apical sterile lemmas awned; 3 -awned. Apical sterile lemma awns 7 mm long (and often winged).

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; ovoid; 2.5 mm long. Embryo 0.9 length of caryopsis.

DISTRIBUTION North America: southwest USA, south-central USA, and Mexico. South America: Mesoamericana.

NOTES Cynodonteae. Griffiths.

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