Isachne pygmaea

HABIT Perennial. Culms prostrate; 5–15 cm long. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface; outer margin hairy. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades lanceolate; 0.5–2 cm long; 2–2.5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous, or puberulous. Leaf-blade margins cartilaginous; scabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle spiciform; linear; 1–2(–3) cm long. Primary panicle branches appressed.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic, or orbicular; dorsally compressed; obtuse; 1.3 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating above glumes but not between florets.

GLUMES Glumes deciduous; similar; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume oblong; 0.66 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Lower glume apex obtuse. Upper glume orbicular; 0.66 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 5 -veined. Upper glume apex truncate, or obtuse.

FLORETS Fertile lemma orbicular; 1.3 mm long; coriaceous; without keel. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea coriaceous; 2 -veined.

FLOWER Anthers 3.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION South America: Caribbean.

NOTES Isachneae. N Amer Fl 1994.

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