Schenckochloa barbata

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect; 60–70 cm long. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface, or pilose. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades conduplicate; 13–20 cm long; 2–3 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface hispid; densely hairy; hairy adaxially. Leaf-blade margins scabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes borne along a central axis; distant; unilateral; 8–13 cm long. Central inflorescence axis 20–30 cm long. Rhachis angular. Spikelet packing lax. Raceme-bases brief.

Spikelets appressed; solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels linear.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 4–5 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus evident; pubescent.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 5–7 mm long; 0.8–1 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume primary vein scaberulous. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume elliptic; 6–7 mm long; 1.2 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume primary vein scaberulous. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; 5–6 mm long; membranous; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma midvein ciliate; hairy below. Lemma margins ciliate; hairy below. Lemma apex dentate; 2 -fid; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn from a sinus; 3–6 mm long overall. Palea surface glabrous. Palea apex acuminate. Apical sterile florets 1 in number; barren; lanceolate. Apical sterile lemmas awned.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; cuneate; fleshy. Anthers 3.

DISTRIBUTION South America: Brazil.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Swallen.

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