Megalachne masafuerana

HABIT Perennial. Culms geniculately ascending; 30–100 cm long. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 3–6 mm long; lacerate. Leaf-blades 10–20 cm long; 2–4 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; effuse; 5–15 cm long. Panicle branches flexuous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 5–6 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets cuneate; laterally compressed; 15–20 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes 1.5–3 mm long; glabrous. Floret callus evident; pubescent.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet; similar to fertile lemma in texture. Lower glume linear; 11–22 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; herbaceous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Lower glume apex setaceously attenuate; muticous. Upper glume linear; 12–22 mm long; 1.2–1.4 length of adjacent fertile lemma; herbaceous; 1-keeled; 5 -veined. Upper glume apex setaceously attenuate; muticous (without clearly differentiated awn).

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic; 10–15 mm long; herbaceous; keeled; 5 -veined. Lemma midvein scabrous. Lemma apex acuminate; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn curved; reflexed; 10–30 mm long overall. Palea 0.9 length of lemma; 2 -veined. Palea keels scaberulous. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; membranous; 2-toothed. Anthers 3; 4.5–5 mm long. Ovary unappendaged; pubescent on apex.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; hairy at apex. Hilum linear.

DISTRIBUTION South America: southern South America.

NOTES Poeae. WDC.

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