Eustachys distichophylla

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Basal innovations flabellate. Culms 55–120 cm long. Leaf-sheaths keeled. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades flat, or conduplicate; (5–)10–38 cm long; (5–)7–15 mm wide. Leaf-blade apex obtuse to acute.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 14–28(–33); digitate; flexuous; unilateral; 9–17 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; 2.5–3.3 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus pilose.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; dissimilar; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma; gaping. Lower glume lanceolate; 1.2–1.7 mm long; 0.66–0.75 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume oblong; 1.8–2.3 mm long; 0.7 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 mm long.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; laterally compressed; 2.5–3.3 mm long; chartaceous; dark brown; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma margins ciliate; hairy all along. Lemma hairs 1–1.2 mm long. Lemma apex acute; mucronate. Palea 2 -veined. Apical sterile florets 1 in number; barren; oblong; 1.5–1.7 mm long. Apical sterile lemmas obtuse.

DISTRIBUTION Australasia: Australia. North America: southwest USA. South America: western South America, Brazil, and southern South America.

NOTES Cynodonteae. Gr Bahia.

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