Koeleria praeandina

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Rhizomes short. Culms geniculately ascending; 30–73 cm long; 2–3 -noded. Culm-nodes glabrous. Lateral branches lacking. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface, or pubescent. Ligule a ciliolate membrane; 0.7–3 mm long; truncate, or acute. Leaf-blades 2.5–19 cm long; 1.5–2 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous, or puberulous. Leaf-blade margins ciliate. Leaf-blade apex obtuse.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle; exserted, or embraced at base by subtending leaf. Peduncle pubescent above.

Panicle spiciform; linear; interrupted; 3.5–17.5 cm long; 0.3–1 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; 4–6 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes 1–1.5 mm long; pubescent. Floret callus sparsely hairy.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet; similar to fertile lemma in texture; shiny; gaping. Lower glume lanceolate; 5–5.5 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; 5–5.5 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; 4–4.5 mm long; membranous; shiny; keeled; 5 -veined. Lemma lateral veins obscure; stopping well short of apex. Lemma apex acute; muticous, or mucronate. Palea gaping. Palea keels scaberulous.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; 1 mm long; membranous. Anthers 3; 1–1.8 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; ellipsoid; 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.