Calamagrostis eminens

HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped densely. Rhizomes short. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending; 35–100 cm long. Leaf-sheaths scaberulous. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 10–18 mm long; acuminate. Leaf-blades involute; 10–30 cm long; 2–3 mm wide; stiff.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; 10–20 cm long; with spikelets clustered towards branch tips. Primary panicle branches drooping. Panicle branches flexible.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels 1 length of fertile spikelet; glabrous.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; with a barren rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; laterally compressed; 4–5.4 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes elongated below proximal fertile floret. Floret callus bearded. Floret callus hairs 1 length of lemma.

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 lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex erose; acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 4–5.4 mm long; 1.5 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex erose; acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; 2.6–3.5 mm long; membranous; without keel. Lemma apex erose; truncate; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn dorsal; arising 0.2–0.5 way up back of lemma; straight; 2–3.2 mm long overall. Rhachilla extension 1–1.7 mm long; pilose; hairy throughout; with 1.5 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 and southern South America.

NOTES Aveneae. Tovar 1995.

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