Imperata minutiflora

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms geniculately ascending, or decumbent; 100 cm long. Leaves cauline. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades spreading; flexuous; flat, or involute; 3–16 cm long; 2–4 mm wide. Leaf-blade apex attenuate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle with branches tipped by a raceme.

Panicle spiciform; linear; 13–33 cm long. Primary panicle branches appressed, or ascending; 0.5–2 cm long. Panicle axis glabrous. Panicle branches glabrous.

Racemes bearing few fertile spikelets. Rhachis tough; subterete; glabrous on surface. Rhachis internodes filiform.

Spikelets in pairs. Fertile spikelets pedicelled; 2 in the cluster. Pedicels filiform; unequal; glabrous; tip widened.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; subterete; 1.5–2.5 mm long; falling entire. Spikelet callus bearded; base truncate. Spikelet callus hairs white; 8–10 mm long; 3–4 length of spikelet.

GLUMES Glumes similar; exceeding apex of florets; firmer than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 5 -veined. Upper glume lanceolate; 0.75 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to fertile lemma; oblong; 0.75 length of spikelet; hyaline; 0 -veined; without midvein; without lateral veins; erose; obtuse. Fertile lemma ovate; hyaline; without keel; 0 -veined. Palea hyaline; 0 -veined; without keels.

FLOWER Lodicules absent. Anthers 1; 1–1.5 mm long. Stigmas 2; terminally exserted.

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

NOTES Andropogoneae. Tovar 1994.

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