Briza juergensii

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Basal innovations extravaginal. Culms erect; 25–80 cm long; 2–3 -noded. Culm-nodes glabrous. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1–4 mm long. Leaf-blades flat; 15–50 cm long; 2–10 mm wide. Leaf-blade midrib keeled beneath. Leaf-blade surface ungrooved; glabrous, or puberulous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; 4–20 cm long. Primary panicle branches 6–12 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels 2–15 mm long; glabrous.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 4–10 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 0.2–0.5 mm long; pubescent.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume ovate; 2.6–3.1 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Lower glume surface pubescent. Lower glume apex obtuse. Upper glume ovate; 2.6–3.1 mm long; 1.1–1.2 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 5 -veined. Upper glume surface pubescent. Upper glume apex obtuse.

FLORETS Fertile lemma trullate; 3–3.7 mm long; membranous; much thinner on margins; keeled; winged on margins; 5 -veined. Lemma surface glabrous, or puberulous. Lemma apex cuspidate; mucronate. Palea lanceolate, or elliptic; 2.3–2.6 mm long; membranous; 2 -veined. Palea surface pubescent; hairy on back. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; lanceolate; 0.5–0.6 mm long; membranous; acute. Anthers 1(–3); 0.1–0.2 mm long. Ovary glabrous.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; ellipsoid; trigonous; 1.2 mm long. Hilum elliptic.

DISTRIBUTION South America: Brazil.

NOTES Poeae. Mathei 1994.

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