Deyeuxia muiriana

HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped densely. Basal innovations intravaginal. Culms 12–34 cm long. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface, or pilose; with reflexed hairs. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.8–2.2 mm long; obtuse. Leaf-blades involute; 4–12 cm long; 2–4 mm wide; glaucous. Leaf-blade venation comprising 5 vascular bundles. Leaf-blade surface scabrous; rough abaxially; pubescent; hairy adaxially. Leaf-blade apex acute.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; 1.9–7.5 cm long; 0.4–3 cm wide; bearing few spikelets.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; with a barren rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; laterally compressed; 3–4.5 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus pubescent. Floret callus hairs 0.3–0.6 mm long; 0.1 length of lemma.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; firmer than fertile lemma; gaping. Lower glume lanceolate; 3–4.5 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; purple; without keels, or 1-keeled. Lower glume apex acute; mucronate. Upper glume lanceolate; 3–4.5 mm long; 1.1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; purple; without keels, or 1-keeled; keeled above. Upper glume apex acute; mucronate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; 2.5–4 mm long; membranous; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma lateral veins excurrent. Lemma surface smooth, or scaberulous. Lemma apex awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn dorsal; arising 0.33–0.5 way up back of lemma; straight; 3.3–6 mm long overall; with twisted column. Palea 1 length of lemma. Rhachilla extension 2 mm long; pilose.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 0.9–2.5 mm long; purple.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION North America: southwest USA.

NOTES Aveneae. Wilson & Gray 2004.

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