Briza rufa

HABIT Perennial. Rhizomes elongated. Culms erect; 20–100 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1–2 mm long. Leaf-blades 6–25 cm long; 5–10 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle contracted; lanceolate, or ovate; 3–9 cm long; 0.5–3 cm wide. Primary panicle branches bearing spikelets almost to the base.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels linear.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 3(–4) fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets ovate; laterally compressed; 2.5–3.2 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes obscured by lemmas. Floret callus pubescent.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume orbicular; 1.4–1.7 mm long; 0.8–0.9 length of upper glume; chartaceous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Lower glume primary vein ciliate. Lower glume surface asperulous. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume orbicular; 1.7–2 mm long; 1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; chartaceous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Upper glume primary vein ciliate. Upper glume apex obtuse.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblate; thickened on margins at base; gibbous; 1.7–2 mm long; coriaceous; much thinner above; dark brown; glandular on veins (base of marginal veins); without keel; 7 -veined. Lemma surface pubescent; hairy above. Lemma margins flat, or involute. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea 0.9 length of lemma; 2 -veined. Palea keels ciliolate. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; 0.4–0.6 mm long. Anthers 3; 0.8–1 mm long. Ovary glabrous.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; ellipsoid; 1–1.4 mm long. Hilum punctiform.

DISTRIBUTION Australasia: New Zealand. South America: Brazil and southern South America.

NOTES Poeae. Mattei.

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