Deyeuxia rigida

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Rhizomes short. Culms erect; 40–70 cm long. Leaf-sheaths smooth, or scaberulous. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 4–7 mm long. Leaf-blades involute; 13–30 cm long; 2–3 mm wide; coriaceous; stiff. Leaf-blade surface scabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle contracted; linear; 12–20 cm long; 1.5–2.3 cm wide. Primary panicle branches appressed.

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 0.5–0.8 mm long.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; reaching apex of florets, or exceeding apex of florets; firmer than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume primary vein smooth, or scaberulous. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 5.5–6.5 mm long; 1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled. Upper glume primary vein smooth, or scaberulous. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; 5.3–6.3 mm long; membranous; without keel. Lemma surface scaberulous. Lemma apex dentate; 3–4 -fid; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn dorsal; arising 0.33 way up back of lemma; geniculate; 5–6 mm long overall; with twisted column. Rhachilla extension 1.7–2.5 mm long; pilose; with 2.5–3.5 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 and southern South America.

NOTES Aveneae. Tovar 1995.

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