Isachne pubescens

HABIT Perennial. Culms rambling, or scandent; 100–200 cm long; 2–3 mm diam. Lateral branches ample. Leaf-sheaths pilose; with tubercle-based hairs; outer margin hairy. Ligule a fringe of hairs; 2–3 mm long. Leaf-blades lanceolate; 7–16 cm long; 10–14 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface pubescent. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle. Peduncle pubescent above.

Panicle open; oblong; 11–12 cm long; 4 cm wide. Primary panicle branches ascending; rebranched near base. Panicle axis pubescent. Panicle branches pubescent.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; dorsally compressed; 1.9–2 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating above glumes but not between florets. Rhachilla internodes pubescent.

GLUMES Glumes deciduous; similar; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume oblong; 0.75 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 5 -veined. Lower glume surface puberulous; hairy above. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 0.75 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 7 -veined. Upper glume surface puberulous; hairy above. Upper glume apex obtuse.

FLORETS Fertile florets with the lowest dissimilar. Lowest fertile lemma elliptic; 1.8 mm long; 1.8 length of adjacent lemma. Fertile lemma ovate; 1 mm long; coriaceous; without keel. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea coriaceous; 2 -veined.

FLOWER Anthers 3.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION North America: Mexico. South America: Mesoamericana.

NOTES Isachneae. Swallen 1994.

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