Chondrosum karwinskyi

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Rhizomes short. Culms erect; slender; 20–30(–50) cm long. Leaves mostly basal. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface; outer margin hairy. Leaf-sheath oral hairs ciliate. Ligule a fringe of hairs; 0.3 mm long. Leaf-blades 3–9 cm long; 1–2 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scabrous; rough adaxially; pilose; sparsely hairy; hairy adaxially.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 3–5; borne along a central axis; erect, or spreading; unilateral; 1–1.8 cm long. Central inflorescence axis 5–10 cm long. Rhachis flattened. Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis; crowded.

Spikelets pectinate; solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets cuneate; laterally compressed; 3–4 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma; gaping. Lower glume lanceolate; 1.5–2 mm long; 0.7–0.8 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; 2–2.5 mm long; 0.66 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 3–4 mm long; coriaceous; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma midvein pubescent. Lemma margins pubescent. Lemma apex entire; muticous. Palea 2 -veined. Rhachilla extension glabrous. Apical sterile florets 1 in number; barren; cuneate; 0.4 mm long. Apical sterile lemmas lobed; 2 -fid; obtuse; awned; 3 -awned. Apical sterile lemma awns 1.5 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION North America: Mexico.

NOTES Cynodonteae. Gould.

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