Koeleria inaequaliglumis

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Rhizomes short. Culms geniculately ascending; 11–45 cm long; 2–3 -noded. Culm-nodes glabrous. Lateral branches lacking. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface, or pilose; with reflexed hairs. Ligule a ciliolate membrane; 0.5–2 mm long; truncate, or acute. Leaf-blades conduplicate; 4–12 cm long; 2–3 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface smooth, or scaberulous, or scabrous; glabrous, or puberulous, or pubescent.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle; exserted. Peduncle pubescent above.

Panicle spiciform; linear; interrupted; 3–9 cm long; 0.8–1 cm wide. Panicle axis pubescent.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels pubescent.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2–3 fertile florets; with a barren rhachilla extension. Spikelets cuneate; laterally compressed; 5–6 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes 0.7–1 mm long; pubescent. Floret callus glabrous, or sparsely hairy.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet; similar to fertile lemma in texture; shiny; gaping. Lower glume lanceolate; 4–5 mm long; 0.8–0.9 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Lower glume primary vein scaberulous (above). Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; 5.2–6 mm long; 1.1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Upper glume primary vein scabrous (above). Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic; 4.5–5 mm long; membranous; shiny; keeled; 5 -veined. Lemma lateral veins obscure; stopping well short of apex. Lemma apex acute; mucronate. Palea gaping. Palea keels scaberulous.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; 1 mm long; membranous. Anthers 3; 1.2–2 mm long; purple.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; fusiform; laterally compressed; 2.5 mm long. Hilum elliptic. Endosperm liquid.

DISTRIBUTION South America: southern South America.

NOTES Aveneae. Molina 2005.

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