Lycurus phleoides

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending, or decumbent; 20–50 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1.5–3 mm long; trilobed. Leaf-blades 3–10 cm long; 0.5–2 mm wide. Leaf-blade apex acute, or acuminate; simple.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle spiciform; linear; 3–6 cm long. Primary panicle branches accrescent to a central axis; with lateral stumps on axis. Panicle axis angular; scabrous; bearing deciduous spikelet clusters.

Spikelets in pairs. Fertile spikelets pedicelled; 2 in the cluster. Pedicels fused to each other; united below; linear; unequal; 0.5–1 mm long; scaberulous.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; laterally compressed; 3.5–4 mm long; falling entire; deciduous in a cluster with fused pedicels.

GLUMES Glumes similar; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume oblong; 1–1.5 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 2 -veined. Lower glume apex awned; 2 -awned. Lower glume awn 2–3 mm long. Upper glume oblong; 1–1.5 mm long; 0.5 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume awned; 1 -awned. Upper glume awn 2–3 mm long.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic; 3.5–4 mm long; chartaceous; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma margins ciliate; hairy below. Lemma apex acuminate; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn 2–3 mm long overall. Palea elliptic; 2 -veined. Palea keels ciliate. Palea apex acuminate.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 1.7–2 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; fusiform.

DISTRIBUTION North America: north-central USA, northeast USA, southwest USA, south-central USA, and Mexico. South America: western South America.

NOTES Eragrostideae. WDC.

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