Calamagrostis steyermarkii

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect; 65 cm long. Leaf-sheaths longer than adjacent culm internode; glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 2 mm long; obtuse. Leaf-blades erect; involute; 15–25 cm long; stiff. Leaf-blade surface glabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; 18 cm long. Primary panicle branches ascending; whorled at most nodes; rebranched above middle; 5–11 cm long. Panicle branches capillary; straight, or flexuous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; with a barren rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; laterally compressed; 3–3.5 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus pilose. Floret callus hairs 1–1.5 mm long; 0.5–0.75 length of lemma.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; firmer than fertile lemma; gaping. Lower glume lanceolate; 3–3.5 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; purple; 1-keeled. Lower glume primary vein scaberulous. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 3–3.5 mm long; 1.5–1.7 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; purple; 1-keeled. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; 2 mm long; membranous; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma apex erose; acute; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn dorsal; arising 0.1 way up back of lemma; straight; 4 mm long overall; with twisted column. Rhachilla extension 0.4 mm long; villous; with 2 mm long hairs.

FLOWER Anthers 3.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION South America: western South America.

NOTES Aveneae. Swallen 2004.

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