Gouinia virgata

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms 30–150 cm long. Culm-internodes solid. Culm-nodes glabrous. Ligule a ciliolate membrane; 0.5–1.5 mm long. Leaf-blades 10–25 cm long; 4–15 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 4–15; borne along a central axis; unilateral; 8–20 cm long. Central inflorescence axis 10–15 cm long. Rhachis angular. Spikelet packing lax.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels linear; angular; 1–4 mm long.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2–3 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 10–12 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes 2.5 mm long. Floret callus evident; pubescent.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet; similar to fertile lemma in texture. Lower glume lanceolate; 3.9–5.2 mm long; 0.66 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 3–4 -veined. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume ovate; 5.7–7.2 mm long; 0.75 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 5–7 -veined. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; 8–10 mm long; membranous; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma midvein ciliate; hairy below. Lemma margins ciliate; hairy below. Lemma apex acuminate; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn 8–15 mm long overall. Palea keels ciliate. Apical sterile florets 1 in number; barren; lanceolate; 0.5–4 mm long. Apical sterile lemmas awned. Apical sterile lemma awns 3–15 mm long.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 0.5–0.6 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION North America: Mexico. South America: Mesoamericana, Caribbean, western South America, and Brazil.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Pohl.

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