Mesosetum loliiforme

HABIT Perennial. Stolons present. Culms erect; slender; 15–70 cm long. Leaf-sheaths hispid; outer margin hairy. Ligule a fringe of hairs; 0.2 mm long. Leaf-blades 4–8 cm long; 3–5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface hispid; hairy on both sides. Leaf-blade margins cartilaginous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 1; single; unilateral; 4–10 cm long. Rhachis angular. Spikelet packing adaxial; regular; 2 -rowed.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 2.8–3.8 mm long; falling entire. Spikelet callus pubescent.

GLUMES Glumes dissimilar; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume oblong; 2–3 mm long; 0.66–0.75 length of spikelet; chartaceous; 1-keeled; 1–3 -veined. Lower glume primary vein ciliate (below). Lower glume surface asperulous. Lower glume apex emarginate. Upper glume lanceolate; 1.2–2.7 mm long; 0.6–0.9 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume margins ciliate. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret oblong; 1 length of spikelet; hyaline; thicker on margins; 3–5 -veined; ciliate on margins; acute. Fertile lemma ovate; dorsally compressed; 2.4–3 mm long; coriaceous; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma surface striate. Lemma margins flat. Lemma apex acute. Palea coriaceous; without keels.

FRUIT Hilum linear.

DISTRIBUTION South America: Caribbean, northern South America, and Brazil.

NOTES Paniceae. Swallen.

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