Monanthochloe acerosa

HABIT Perennial; mat forming. Stolons present; with alternating elongated and bunched internodes. Culms decumbent; 8–15 cm long; wiry. Leaves cauline; distichous. Leaf-sheaths longer than adjacent culm internode. Ligule a ciliolate membrane. Leaf-blades aciculate; conduplicate, or involute; 0.5–2 cm long; 1–2 mm wide; indurate; stiff. Leaf-blade surface ribbed. Leaf-blade apex acute; pungent.

INFLORESCENCE Dioecious. Inflorescence comprising only a few spikelets; comprising 1 fertile spikelets; terminal and axillary; shorter than basal leaves; embraced at base by subtending leaf.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2–6 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets lanceolate; subterete; 6–10 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes definite.

GLUMES Glumes both absent or obscure.

FLORETS Fertile florets female. Fertile lemma elliptic; 6–8 mm long; coriaceous; without keel; 7–9 -veined. Lemma apex acute. Palea tightly convolute around flower; 1 length of lemma; indurate; 2 -veined. Palea keels winged; with toothed wings. Apical sterile florets distinct from fertile.

FRUIT Caryopsis 2 mm long; apex bicornate. Embryo 0.66 length of caryopsis.

MALE Male inflorescence similar to female; of few spikelets (1 spikelet). Male spikelets similar to female but less developed; 3–10 flowered; lanceolate. Male spikelet glumes absent. Male spikelet lemma 5–7 -veined; muticous.

DISTRIBUTION South America: southern South America.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Villamil.

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