Deyeuxia densiflora

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect; 38–60 cm long. Leaf-sheaths smooth, or scaberulous; glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 3–7 mm long. Leaf-blades conduplicate, or involute; 7–15 cm long; 2–3 mm wide; stiff. Leaf-blade surface scabrous. Leaf-blade apex pungent.

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

Panicle contracted; linear, or oblong; 9–18 cm long; 1.7–3 cm wide.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels glabrous, or puberulous.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; with a barren rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; laterally compressed; 5.7–6.1 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus glabrous, or pubescent. Floret callus hairs 0.5 mm long.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; firmer than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; purple; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume primary vein smooth, or scaberulous. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 5.7–6.1 mm long; 1.2–1.3 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; purple; 1-keeled. Upper glume primary vein smooth, or scaberulous. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; 4.5–5 mm long; membranous; without keel. Lemma surface smooth, or scaberulous. Lemma apex dentate; 3 -fid; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn dorsal; arising 0.6 way up back of lemma; straight; 3.5–4.5 mm long overall. Rhachilla extension 1.7–2 mm long; pilose; with 3–3.5 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.

NOTES Aveneae. Tovar 1995.

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