Enteropogon pleiostachyus

HABIT Perennial. Culms 50–80 cm long; wiry. Culm-internodes distally glabrous. Lateral branches ample. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Leaf-sheath oral hairs bearded. Ligule a ciliate membrane. Leaf-blades filiform; involute; 5–20 cm long; 1.5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface smooth; glabrous. Leaf-blade margins scabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 1–3; single, or paired, or digitate; unilateral; 8–12 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 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus evident; pubescent; obtuse.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma; gaping. Lower glume linear; 0.5 mm long; 0.15 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume primary vein scaberulous. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume linear; 2–4 mm long; 0.5–1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Upper glume primary vein scaberulous. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; dorsally compressed; 4 mm long; coriaceous; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma apex acute; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn flexuous; 10–20 mm long overall. Palea 2 -veined. Apical sterile florets 1 in number; linear; 0.5–1 mm long. Apical sterile lemmas acute; muticous.

FRUIT Caryopsis flattened; concavo-convex.

DISTRIBUTION South America: Caribbean.

NOTES Cynodonteae. WDC.

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