Briza lamarckiana

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Basal innovations extravaginal. Culms erect; 20–80 cm long; 2 -noded. Culm-nodes glabrous. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.5–1 mm long. Leaf-blades involute; 6–15 cm long; 0.5–3 mm wide. Leaf-blade midrib scarcely raised beneath. Leaf-blade surface ribbed; glabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle; comprising 18–20 fertile spikelets.

Panicle open; elliptic; 5–15 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels 3–10 mm long; pubescent.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 4–6 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets orbicular; laterally compressed; 3.6–5 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes 0.3 mm long.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume orbicular; 2.1–2.5 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume surface puberulous; hairy above. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume orbicular; 2.1–2.7 mm long; 0.9–1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Upper glume surface puberulous; hairy above. Upper glume apex obtuse.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblate; auriculate at base; 2.4–2.6 mm long; 2.4–2.6 mm wide; coriaceous; much thinner on margins; light brown; keeled; 5 -veined. Lemma apex dentate; 2 -fid; muticous, or awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn from a sinus. Palea orbicular; 1.5–1.8 mm long; coriaceous; 2 -veined. Palea surface puberulous; hairy on flanks. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; cuneate; 0.5–0.6 mm long; membranous; truncate. Anthers 1; 0.5–0.7 mm long. Ovary glabrous.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; orbicular; 1–1.4 mm long. Hilum punctiform, or elliptic.

DISTRIBUTION South America: Brazil and southern South America.

NOTES Poeae. Mathei 1994.

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