Calamovilfa gigantea

HABIT Perennial. Rhizomes elongated. Culms 100–200 cm long; 4–15 mm diam. Ligule a fringe of hairs; 1–2 mm long. Leaf-blades flat, or conduplicate; 30–60 cm long; 5–12 mm wide. Leaf-blade apex filiform.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; 30–60 cm long; contracted about secondary branches. Primary panicle branches ascending, or spreading; 10–20 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; laterally compressed; 7–10 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Spikelet callus bearded. Spikelet callus hairs 0.5 length of spikelet.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets, or reaching apex of florets. Lower glume ovate; 0.9 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 1–1.1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma obovate; 7–10 mm long; membranous; keeled; 1 -veined. Lemma surface pubescent; hairy below. Lemma apex acute. Palea oblong; 1.1 length of lemma; 2 -veined. Palea keels distant but flanking a median depression; pubescent; adorned below.

FRUIT Caryopsis with free soft pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION North America: northwest USA, north-central USA, southwest USA, and south-central USA.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Gould.

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