Deyeuxia nitidula

HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped densely. Rhizomes short. Culms erect; 27–50 cm long. Leaf-sheaths smooth, or scaberulous. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 5–9 mm long; acuminate. Leaf-blades conduplicate; 7–12 cm long; 1–2 mm wide; coriaceous; stiff. Leaf-blade surface scabrous. Leaf-blade apex pungent.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle spiciform; linear; straight; 9–13 cm long; 1.5–2.5 cm wide.

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

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; with a barren rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; laterally compressed; 7–9 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus pubescent. Floret callus hairs 0.5–1 mm long.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; firmer than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; light green, or purple; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 7–9 mm long; 1.2 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; light green, or purple; 1-keeled. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; 6–7.5 mm long; membranous; without keel. Lemma surface scaberulous. Lemma apex entire, or dentate; 2 -fid; obtuse; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn dorsal; arising 0.5 way up back of lemma; geniculate; 5.5–7 mm long overall; with twisted column. Rhachilla extension 2–2.6 mm long; villous; with 3–4.5 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.