Gymnopogon glaber

HABIT Perennial. Rhizomes short. Culms erect; 30–40 cm long. Culm-internodes terete; distally glabrous. Lateral branches lacking. Leaves distichous. Leaf-sheaths longer than adjacent culm internode; glabrous on surface. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades flat, or involute, or convolute; 2.5–6.5 cm long; 2–5 mm wide; stiff. Leaf-blade midrib indistinct. Leaf-blade surface glabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 7–10; digitate, or borne along a central axis; unilateral; 6–8 cm long. Central inflorescence axis 1–2 cm long. Rhachis angular. Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis; lax. Raceme-bases filiform; 30–40 mm long.

Spikelets appressed; solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels oblong; 0.5–1 mm long.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1–2 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets lanceolate; laterally compressed; 4–4.5 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus pubescent.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; gaping. Lower glume linear; 3–3.5 mm long; 0.75 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume primary vein scaberulous. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex setaceously attenuate. Upper glume linear; 4–4.5 mm long; 1.3–1.5 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume primary vein scaberulous. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic; 3 mm long; membranous; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma apex awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn 7 mm long overall. Palea 1 length of lemma. Apical sterile florets 1 in number; barren; rudimentary.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; 0.2 mm long. Anthers 3.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; fusiform; plano-convex; 2 mm long; dark brown.

DISTRIBUTION South America: southern South America.

NOTES Cynodonteae. Caro 1997.

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