Dissanthelium pygmaeum

HABIT Perennial; cushion forming. Culms 2–3 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.7–1 mm long; truncate. Leaf-blades spreading; flat, or conduplicate; 1–2 cm long; 1–2 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface pubescent; sparsely hairy; hairy adaxially. Leaf-blade apex obtuse.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle; shorter than basal leaves.

Panicle spiciform; lanceolate; 1–1.5 cm long; 0.5–0.6 cm wide; bearing few spikelets.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels glabrous.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets ovate; laterally compressed; 4.5–5 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes 0.3 mm long.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma; shiny. Lower glume oblong; 1 length of upper glume; cartilaginous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins ribbed. Lower glume surface glabrous. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume oblong; 4.5–5 mm long; 1.1–1.2 length of adjacent fertile lemma; cartilaginous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins ribbed. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 4–4.5 mm long; cartilaginous; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma midvein without distinctive roughness. Lemma surface smooth; glabrous. Lemma apex acute, or acuminate.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 2 mm long. Ovary glabrous.

FRUIT Endosperm farinose.

DISTRIBUTION South America: western South America.

NOTES Aveneae. Swallen.

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