Distichlis humilis

HABIT Perennial; cushion forming. Rhizomes elongated. Culms 2–5 cm long. Leaves distichous. Leaf-sheaths longer than adjacent culm internode. Ligule a ciliolate membrane. Leaf-blades conduplicate; 7–15 cm long; 1 mm wide; coriaceous; stiff. Leaf-blade surface ribbed. Leaf-blade apex pungent.

INFLORESCENCE Dioecious. Inflorescence composed of racemes, or comprising only a few spikelets; comprising 1–3 fertile spikelets; aerial, or shorter than basal leaves.

Racemes 1; single; paucilateral; 1–1.5 cm long; bearing few fertile spikelets; bearing 1–3 fertile spikelets on each.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels linear.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 5–7 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets ovate; laterally compressed; 7–9 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 3 mm long; 0.75–1 length of upper glume; scarious; 1-keeled; 5 -veined. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 3–4 mm long; 1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; scarious; 1-keeled; 5 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile florets female. Fertile lemma ovate; 3–4 mm long; coriaceous; keeled; 9 -veined. Lemma apex acute. Palea coriaceous; 2 -veined. Palea keels winged; narrowly winged. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Anthers 3.

MALE Male inflorescence similar to female. Male spikelets similar to female but less developed; persistent; 6–18 mm long. Male spikelet glumes 2. Male spikelet lemma muticous.

DISTRIBUTION South America: western South America and southern South America.

NOTES Eragrostideae. WDC 1993.

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