Enteropogon brandegei

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Butt sheaths woolly. Culms 50–100 cm long. Ligule a ciliate membrane. Leaf-blades 15–30 cm long; 2–7 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 10–20; borne along a central axis; unilateral; 5–10 cm long. Central inflorescence axis 6–11 cm long. Rhachis angular. Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis; lax; regular.

Spikelets appressed; solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets lanceolate; laterally compressed; 4.7–5.5 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus bearded; obtuse.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma; gaping. Lower glume lanceolate; 1.5–1.8 mm long; 0.5 length of upper glume; hyaline; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume primary vein scaberulous. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; 3.3–4 mm long; 0.75 length of adjacent fertile lemma; hyaline; without keels; 1 -veined. Upper glume primary vein scaberulous. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic; dorsally compressed; 4.7–5.5 mm long; coriaceous; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma surface scabrous; glabrous to pilose. Lemma apex acute; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn 1–4.5 mm long overall. Palea 2 -veined. Apical sterile florets 1 in number; elliptic; 1.5 mm long. Apical sterile lemmas glabrous, or pilose; acute; awned; 1 -awned. Apical sterile lemma awns 0.7–1.9 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis ellipsoid; flattened; concavo-convex; 2.5–3 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION North America: Mexico.

NOTES Cynodonteae. Anderson.

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