Briza paleapilifera

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Basal innovations extravaginal. Culms erect; 15–60 cm long; 1 -noded. Culm-nodes glabrous. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1–2 mm long. Leaf-blades involute; 10–20 cm long; 1–2 mm wide. Leaf-blade midrib scarcely raised beneath. Leaf-blade surface ribbed; glabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle; comprising 7–16 fertile spikelets.

Panicle contracted; linear; 7–10 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels 2–5 mm long; puberulous.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 8–10 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets ovate, or orbicular; laterally compressed; 6–8 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume ovate; 3.2–4.5 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 5 -veined. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 3.5–5 mm long; 0.8–0.9 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblate; 4–6 mm long; 3.5–5.5 mm wide; coriaceous; much thinner on margins; mid-green; keeled; winged on margins; 5 -veined. Lemma apex acute. Palea ovate, or orbicular; 2.3–3 mm long; coriaceous; 2 -veined. Palea surface puberulous; hairy on back; hairy below. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; cuneate; 0.7–0.8 mm long; membranous; truncate. Anthers 3; 1.5 mm long. Ovary glabrous.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; orbicular, or obovoid; 1.5–1.8 mm long. Hilum elliptic.

DISTRIBUTION South America: western South America and southern South America.

NOTES Poeae. Mathei 1994.

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