Mesosetum sclerochloa

HABIT Annual. Culms decumbent; 15–30 cm long; rooting from lower nodes. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Ligule a fringe of hairs; 0.5–1 mm long. Leaf-blades lanceolate; 4–7 cm long; 4–7 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous. Leaf-blade margins cartilaginous; scabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 1; single; unilateral; 3.5–6 cm long. Rhachis angular; 1 mm wide; ciliate on margins. Spikelet packing adaxial.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels oblong; 1 mm long; glabrous.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 5–6 mm long; falling entire. Spikelet callus glabrous.

GLUMES Glumes dissimilar; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 5–6 mm long; 1 length of spikelet; coriaceous; 1-keeled; 5 -veined. Lower glume surface scabrous; glabrous. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 5–5.3 mm long; 1 length of spikelet; coriaceous; without keels; 5 -veined. Upper glume surface rugose; rough above; glabrous. Upper glume margins ciliolate. Upper glume apex dentate; 2 -fid.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; with palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret oblong; 1 length of spikelet; cartilaginous; 5 -veined; rugose; rough at apex; glabrous; acute. Fertile lemma ovate; dorsally compressed; 3.8–4.2 mm long; coriaceous; keeled; lightly keeled; 5 -veined. Lemma margins flat. Lemma apex acuminate. Palea coriaceous; without keels.

FLOWER Anthers 3; purple.

FRUIT Caryopsis ellipsoid; 3 mm long. Embryo 0.33 length of caryopsis. Hilum linear; 1 length of caryopsis.

DISTRIBUTION South America: Brazil.

NOTES Paniceae. Filgueiras.

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