Briza ambigua

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Basal innovations extravaginal. Culms erect; 40–70 cm long; 2 -noded. Culm-nodes glabrous. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 2 mm long. Leaf-blades flat; 5–20 cm long; 3–5 mm wide. Leaf-blade midrib keeled beneath. Leaf-blade surface ungrooved; scabrous; glabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; 10–20 cm long. Primary panicle branches 5–10 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels 10–15 mm long; pubescent.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 5–7 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets ovate; laterally compressed; 5–7 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes 0.4–0.5 mm long.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume orbicular; 3.5–3.6 mm long; 0.9 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Lower glume apex obtuse. Upper glume orbicular; 3.8–4.1 mm long; 0.8–0.9 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex obtuse.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 4–4.5 mm long; coriaceous; much thinner on margins; keeled; 5 -veined. Lemma apex mucronate. Palea lanceolate, or elliptic; 2.5–2.8 mm long; coriaceous; 2 -veined. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; lanceolate; 0.6–0.7 mm long; membranous; acute. Anthers 1; 0.8–1.6 mm long. Ovary glabrous.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Hilum punctiform.

DISTRIBUTION South America: Brazil.

NOTES Poeae. Mathei 1994.

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