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Descriptions

W.D. Clayton, M. Vorontsova, K.T. Harman & H. Williamson

© Copyright The Board of Trustees, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Chondrosum kayi

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect; 20–40(–50) cm long. Leaves mostly basal. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades involute; 1–1.5 mm wide; glaucous. Leaf-blade surface smooth, or scaberulous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 7–15(–20); borne along a central axis; erect; unilateral; 1.5–3 cm long; bearing 7–14(–20) fertile spikelets on each. Rhachis semiterete; terminating in a barren extension; extension subulate. Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis; lax.

Spikelets pectinate; solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels linear; 0.6–0.8 mm long.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets cuneate; laterally compressed; 4–5 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma; gaping. Lower glume lanceolate; 2.5–4 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex entire, or dentate; 2 -fid; acuminate; muticous, or mucronate. Upper glume lanceolate; 2.5–4 mm long; 1.2–1.3 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex entire, or dentate; 2 -fid; acuminate; muticous, or mucronate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 2–3 mm long; coriaceous; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma surface glabrous, or pubescent; hairy at base. Lemma apex lobed; 3 -fid; with central lobe bidentate; awned; 3 -awned. Principal lemma awn 3–4 mm long overall. Lateral lemma awns arising on margin of lemma; 3–4 mm long; subequal to principal. Palea 2 -veined. Rhachilla extension glabrous. Apical sterile florets 1 in number; barren; cuneate; 0.5 mm long. Apical sterile lemmas lobed; 2 -fid; obtuse; awned; 3 -awned. Apical sterile lemma awns 3–4 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION North America: south-central USA.

NOTES Cynodonteae. Gould.

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