Monanthochloe littoralis

HABIT Perennial; mat forming. Stolons present; with alternating elongated and bunched internodes. Culms decumbent; 8–15 cm long; wiry. Culm-internodes alternately elongated and bunched. Leaves cauline; distichous. Leaf-sheaths mostly shorter than adjacent culm internode. Ligule a ciliolate membrane. Leaf-blades aciculate; conduplicate, or involute; 0.5–1 cm long; 1–2(–3) mm wide; indurate; stiff; glaucous. Leaf-blade surface ribbed. Leaf-blade apex obtuse.

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 2–4 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets lanceolate; subterete; 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; 8 mm long; coriaceous; without keel; 9 -veined. Lemma apex acute. Palea tightly convolute around flower; 1 length of lemma; indurate; 2 -veined. Palea keels winged; with entire wings. Apical sterile florets distinct from fertile.

MALE Male inflorescence similar to female; of few spikelets (1 spikelet). Male spikelets similar to female but less developed; 2–4 flowered; lanceolate. Male spikelet glumes absent. Male spikelet lemma 9 -veined; muticous.

DISTRIBUTION North America: southwest USA, south-central USA, southeast USA, and Mexico. South America: Caribbean.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Gould.

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