Anthoxanthum gunckelii

HABIT Perennial. Rhizomes elongated. Basal innovations extravaginal. Culms 50–100 cm long. Leaf-sheaths antrorsely scabrous. Ligule an eciliate membrane; obtuse. Leaf-blades convolute; 15–35 cm long; 5–7 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface smooth, or scaberulous; rough adaxially, or on both sides.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle contracted; lanceolate; equilateral, or nodding; 12–25 cm long. Primary panicle branches 1–2 -nate; 5–7 cm long. Panicle axis smooth, or scaberulous. Panicle branches pilose.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels ciliate.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets cuneate; laterally compressed; 6–7 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes elongated below proximal fertile floret. Rhachilla elongation 1.5 mm long. Floret callus pilose.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet, or reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 5–6 mm long; 0.8 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Lower glume primary vein smooth, or scaberulous. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 6–7 mm long; membranous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Upper glume primary vein smooth, or scaberulous. Upper glume lateral veins all falling short of apex. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets similar; male; with palea; attached to and deciduous with the fertile. Lemma of lower sterile floret elliptic; 5.5–7 mm long; 1 length of fertile lemma; chartaceous; 1-keeled; 5 -veined; scabrous; eciliate on midvein, or ciliolate on midvein; eciliate on margins, or ciliolate on margins; fringed below; obtuse; mucronate, or awned. Awn of lower sterile floret subapical; 1 mm long. Lemma of upper sterile floret oblong; 1 length of lower sterile floret; chartaceous; obtuse; awned. Awn of upper sterile floret dorsal; arising 0.33 way up back of lemma; straight; 2 mm long. Fertile florets female. Fertile lemma ovate; 4.3–4.8 mm long; cartilaginous; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma midvein eciliate, or ciliolate. Lemma surface scabrous; rough above. Lemma margins convolute; covering most of palea. Lemma apex acute. Palea linear; 1 -veined; without keels.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 3.5 mm long. Staminodes two present. Stigmas pubescent. Ovary glabrous.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; fusiform; 1.5 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION South America: southern South America.

NOTES Aveneae. Fl Pat 1995.

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