Danthonia boliviensis

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Rhizomes short. Basal innovations intravaginal. Culms erect; 15–60 cm long. Leaves mostly basal. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades filiform; involute; 5–15 cm long; 1 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous, or pilose. Leaf-blade apex acute.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle; comprising 4–9 fertile spikelets. Peduncle pubescent above.

Panicle open; oblong; 2–6 cm long; bearing few spikelets.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels pubescent.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2–4 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets elliptic; laterally compressed; 9–16.5 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus evident; pilose.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume linear; 9–16.5 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 3–7 -veined. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume linear; 9–16.5 mm long; 1.5–2.5 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 3–7 -veined. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic; 6 mm long; coriaceous; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma surface pilose; hairy at base. Lemma margins ciliate. Lemma apex lobed; 2 -fid; incised 0.5–0.6 of lemma length; acuminate; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn from a sinus; geniculate; 5–8 mm long overall; with twisted column. Palea 2 -veined. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; cuneate; fleshy. Anthers 3.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Hilum linear.

DISTRIBUTION South America: western South America.

NOTES Arundineae. Gr Bolivia 1997.

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