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GrassBase - The Online World Grass Flora
Descriptions
W.D. Clayton, M. Vorontsova, K.T. Harman & H. Williamson
© Copyright The Board of Trustees, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
Lithachne pauciflora
HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending; 20–75 cm long. Culm-nodes constricted. Leaves cauline. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.5 mm long. Leaf-blade base simple and broadly rounded; asymmetrical; with a brief petiole-like connection to sheath. Leaf-blades lanceolate; 4–10 cm long; 15–30 mm wide.
INFLORESCENCE Monoecious; with male terminal and mixed axillary inflorescences. Inflorescence comprising only a few spikelets; comprising 1 fertile spikelets (and 0–3 male); axillary. Peduncle flexuous.
Sexes segregated; with male below. Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Male spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels cuneate; flattened.
FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets cuneate; laterally compressed; 9–11 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus evident; 1 mm long; truncate.
GLUMES Glumes deciduous; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 9–11 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; herbaceous; without keels; 9 -veined. Lower glume apex caudate. Upper glume ovate; 9–11 mm long; 2 length of adjacent fertile lemma; herbaceous; without keels; 7 -veined. Upper glume apex caudate.
FLORETS Fertile florets female. Fertile lemma obovate; laterally compressed; gibbous; hemispherical; 4–5 mm long; indurate; pallid, or dark brown; shiny; without keel. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex truncate. Palea indurate.
FLOWER Lodicules 3. Anthers 3.
FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; orbicular.
MALE Male inflorescence terminal; unlike female; a panicle. Male spikelets distinct from female; 1 flowered; 5–6 mm long. Male spikelet glumes absent. Male spikelet lemma 3 -veined; muticous.
DISTRIBUTION North America: Mexico. South America: Mesoamericana, Caribbean, northern South America, western South America, Brazil, and southern South America.
NOTES Olyreae. Pohl.
Please cite this publication as detailed in How to Cite Version: 3rd February 2016.
