Mesosetum stoloniferum

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Stolons present. Culms 20–80 cm long. Culm-nodes pubescent. Leaves mostly basal. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface, or pubescent; outer margin hairy. Ligule a fringe of hairs; 0.5 mm long. Leaf-blades 5–20 cm long; 2–5 mm wide; stiff.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 1; single; unilateral; 3–9 cm long. Rhachis narrowly winged; angular; 1–1.4 mm wide. Spikelet packing adaxial.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels oblong.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 4.5–5 mm long; falling entire. Spikelet callus pubescent.

GLUMES Glumes dissimilar; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 4.5–5 mm long; 1 length of spikelet; chartaceous; 1-keeled. Lower glume primary vein ciliate. Lower glume apex awned; 1 -awned. Lower glume awn 1 mm long. Upper glume lanceolate; 4–5 mm long; 0.9–1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 3(–5) -veined. Upper glume margins ciliate. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; with palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret oblong; 4.2–4.7 mm long; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 3–5 -veined; ciliate on margins; acute. Palea of lower sterile floret 3–4.2 mm long. Fertile lemma ovate; dorsally compressed; 3.5–3.9 mm long; coriaceous; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma surface smooth. Lemma margins flat. Palea coriaceous; without keels.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 1.7–1.9 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION North America: Mexico. South America: Mesoamericana.

NOTES Paniceae. Fl Meso-Am 1995.

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