Briza uniolae

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Basal innovations extravaginal. Culms erect; 30–150 cm long; 2 -noded. Culm-nodes glabrous. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.5–3 mm long. Leaf-blades flat; 11–25 cm long; 2–10 mm wide. Leaf-blade midrib keeled beneath. Leaf-blade surface ungrooved; scabrous; rough adaxially; glabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle contracted; lanceolate; 5–22 cm long. Primary panicle branches 1–5 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels 0.2–4 mm long; puberulous.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 4–8 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets orbicular; laterally compressed; 3–5 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes 0.5 mm long.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume ovate; 1.8–2.8 mm long; 0.9 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Lower glume surface scabrous. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume orbicular; 2–3 mm long; 0.8–0.9 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Upper glume surface scabrous. Upper glume apex obtuse.

FLORETS Fertile lemma orbicular; 2.4–3.4 mm long; coriaceous; much thinner on margins; keeled; 5 -veined. Lemma midvein ciliate. Lemma surface papillose. Lemma apex mucronate. Palea linear, or lanceolate; 1.5–2.1 mm long; coriaceous; 2 -veined. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; lanceolate; 0.4–0.6 mm long; membranous; acute. Anthers 1; 0.6–1 mm long. Ovary glabrous.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; ellipsoid; trigonous; 1.3–1.5 mm long. Hilum punctiform.

DISTRIBUTION South America: western 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.