Microbriza poimorpha

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Butt sheaths persistent and investing base of culm; with fibrous dead sheaths. Culms 50–70 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 3 mm long. Leaf-blades filiform, or linear; flat, or convolute; 10–20 cm long; 1–3 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; lanceolate, or ovate; 4–15 cm long; contracted about primary branches.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2(–3) fertile florets; with a barren rhachilla extension. Spikelets orbicular; laterally compressed; 1.5–2 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret, or above glumes but not between florets.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 1 length of upper glume; chartaceous; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume surface scabrous. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 1.3 length of adjacent fertile lemma; chartaceous; without keels; 1 -veined. Upper glume primary vein scabrous. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma orbicular; 1.2 mm long; indurate; keeled; 5 -veined. Lemma surface scabrous and tuberculate. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea 1 length of lemma; indurate; 2 -veined. Palea surface scabrous and tuberculate; pilose; hairy on back. Rhachilla extension 0.2 length of fertile floret.

FLOWER Anthers 1.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Hilum punctiform.

DISTRIBUTION South America: Brazil and southern South America.

NOTES Poeae. WDC.

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