Catabrosa werdermannii

HABIT Perennial. Rhizomes elongated. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending; 3–20 cm long. Leaf-sheaths open for most of their length. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1–3 mm long; obtuse. Leaf-blades flat, or conduplicate; 1–10 cm long; 1–3 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle; embraced at base by subtending leaf.

Panicle contracted; oblong; 1–6 cm long. Primary panicle branches whorled at lower nodes; 0.5–3 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels linear; 0.3–5 mm long.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1–3 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension, or with a barren rhachilla extension (when 1-flowered). Spikelets ovate; laterally compressed; 1.5–2.5 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume elliptic, or obovate; 0.5–1 mm long; 0.66 length of upper glume; membranous; much thinner above; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume surface asperulous (papillose). Lower glume apex truncate, or obtuse. Upper glume obovate; 0.7–1.2 mm long; 0.5 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; much thinner above; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins all falling short of apex. Upper glume apex truncate, or obtuse.

FLORETS Fertile lemma obovate; 1.5–2.5 mm long; membranous; much thinner above; much thinner on margins; purple; without keel; 3 -veined. Lemma lateral veins ribbed; less than two thirds length of lemma. Lemma apex erose; truncate. Palea elliptic; 1 length of lemma; 2 -veined. Palea apex truncate.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; obovate; 0.5–0.6 mm long; membranous. Anthers 3; 0.7–1 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; ellipsoid; dark brown. Hilum elliptic.

DISTRIBUTION South America: western South America and southern South America.

NOTES Poeae. Nic & Rug 1997.

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