Deyeuxia brevifolia

HABIT Perennial; cushion forming. Culms 15–45 cm long. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1.5–2 mm long; truncate. Leaf-blades curved, or flexuous; filiform; involute; 2–8 cm long; 1 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scaberulous; rough adaxially. Leaf-blade margins ciliate. Leaf-blade apex pungent.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle; subtended by an inflated leaf-sheath.

Panicle contracted; oblong; 3.5–7 cm long; 1.2–1.8 cm wide.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels glabrous.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; with a barren rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; laterally compressed; 5–6 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus pubescent. Floret callus hairs 0.6–1.3 mm long.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; firmer than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume primary vein smooth, or scaberulous. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 5–6 mm long; 1.2 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled. Upper glume primary vein smooth, or scaberulous. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; 4.2–4.8 mm long; membranous; without keel. Lemma surface smooth, or asperulous. Lemma apex dentate; 3–4 -fid; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn dorsal; arising 0.33 way up back of lemma; straight, or flexuous; 3–4 mm long overall. Rhachilla extension 2–2.5 mm long; villous; with 3–4 mm long hairs.

FLOWER Lodicules 2. Anthers 3. Stigmas 2.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Hilum punctiform. Disseminule comprising a floret.

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

NOTES Aveneae. Tovar 1995.

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