Calamagrostis pungens

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect; 22–25 cm long. Leaves mostly basal. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.5–1 mm long; truncate. Leaf-blades straight; conduplicate; 3–7 cm long; 1–2 mm wide; coriaceous; stiff. Leaf-blade surface scabrous; rough on both sides. Leaf-blade apex acute; pungent.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle. Peduncle smooth, or scaberulous above.

Panicle contracted; linear, or oblong; interrupted; 7–8 cm long; 1–1.3 cm wide. Primary panicle branches bearing spikelets almost to the base.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels puberulous.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; with a barren rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; laterally compressed; 5.5–6.5 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; purple; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume primary vein ciliolate. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume surface asperulous. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 5.5–6.5 mm long; 1.2–1.4 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; purple; 1-keeled. Upper glume primary vein ciliolate. Upper glume surface asperulous. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; 4.5–4.7 mm long; membranous; without keel. Lemma surface puberulous. Lemma apex erose; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn dorsal; arising 0.25 way up back of lemma; geniculate; 6–6.5 mm long overall; with twisted column. Rhachilla extension 2.5–2.8 mm long; pubescent; with 0.6–1 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.