Eustachys calvescens

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Basal innovations flabellate. Culms erect; 50–100 cm long. Leaf-sheaths keeled. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades flat, or conduplicate; 20–40 cm long; 5–9 mm wide. Leaf-blade apex obtuse; apiculate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 1–4; digitate; erect; straight; unilateral; 6–12 cm long. Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis; crowded; regular.

Spikelets pectinate; solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets obovate; laterally compressed; 3.5 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus glabrous.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; dissimilar; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma; gaping. Lower glume lanceolate; 2.3 mm long; 0.8 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume oblong; 2.8 mm long; 0.8 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex lobed; 2 -fid; obtuse; awned; 1 -awned. Upper glume awn 0.5–1 mm long.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; laterally compressed; 3.5 mm long; chartaceous; dark brown; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma margins pubescent. Lemma hairs 0.2–0.5 mm long. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea 2 -veined. Apical sterile florets 1 in number; barren; oblong; 1–1.5 mm long. Apical sterile lemmas obtuse.

DISTRIBUTION South America: Brazil and southern South America.

NOTES Cynodonteae. Fl Cat.

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