Chaetium bromoides

HABIT Perennial. Culms 50–100 cm long. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades 10–30 cm long; 3–7 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 2–6; borne along a central axis; erect; unilateral; 3–10 cm long. Central inflorescence axis 10–23 cm long. Rhachis angular. Spikelet packing lax.

Spikelets in pairs. Fertile spikelets sessile and pedicelled; 2 in the cluster.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; dorsally compressed; plano-convex; 8–10 mm long; falling entire. Spikelet callus linear; 1.5–2.5 mm long; pilose; base obtuse; attached obliquely.

GLUMES Glumes similar; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 8–10 mm long; 1 length of spikelet; herbaceous; without keels; 5–7 -veined. Lower glume surface scabrous. Lower glume apex awned; 1 -awned. Lower glume awn 10–35 mm long (flexuous). Upper glume lanceolate; 8–10 mm long; herbaceous; without keels; 5–7 -veined. Upper glume surface scabrous. Upper glume awned; 1 -awned. Upper glume awn 10–35 mm long (flexuous).

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret ovate; 6–8 mm long; 1 length of fertile lemma; 0.9 length of spikelet; membranous; 3 -veined; setaceously attenuate. Fertile lemma ovate; 6–8 mm long; coriaceous; without keel. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex acute; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn 1–2 mm long overall. Palea 1 length of lemma; coriaceous. Palea apex acuminate.

DISTRIBUTION North America: Mexico. South America: Mesoamericana.

NOTES Paniceae. Pohl.

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