Gymnopogon grandiflorus

HABIT Perennial. Rhizomes elongated. Culms erect; 20–40 cm long. Leaf-sheaths without keel; glabrous on surface. Ligule a ciliolate membrane; truncate. Leaf-blades lanceolate; 2–6 mm wide; stiff. Leaf-blade midrib indistinct. Leaf-blade surface glabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 8–12; borne along a central axis; spreading; straight; unilateral; 10–14 cm long. Central inflorescence axis 3–9 cm long. Rhachis angular. Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis; distant. Raceme-bases filiform.

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

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2 fertile florets; with a barren rhachilla extension. Spikelets cuneate; laterally compressed; 4.5–6.5 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus pubescent.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma; gaping. Lower glume lanceolate; 3–6 mm long; 0.66–0.9 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; 4.5–6.5 mm long; 1.2–1.4 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 3.8–4.8 mm long; hyaline; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma surface pubescent; hairy below. Lemma apex dentate; 2 -fid; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn from a sinus; 5–10 mm long overall. Palea 0.9 length of lemma; hyaline. Rhachilla extension 1 length of fertile floret.

FLOWER Anthers 3.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; lanceolate; 2.6–3 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION South America: western South America, Brazil, and southern South America.

NOTES Cynodonteae. Rosengurtt 1996.

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