Neesiochloa barbata

HABIT Annual; caespitose. Culms 15–30 cm long. Ligule a ciliate membrane. Leaf-blades 3–7 cm long; 2–3 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface ribbed; pilose; hairy on both sides; with tubercle-based hairs. Leaf-blade margins cartilaginous; spinulose.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; oblong; effuse; 4–10 cm long. Panicle branches glandular; scaberulous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels filiform; 10–25 mm long.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 7–10 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets orbicular; laterally compressed; 6–8 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus pubescent.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 4.5–5 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex attenuate; awned; 1 -awned. Lower glume awn 0.5–1 mm long. Upper glume ovate; 4.5–5 mm long; 1.25 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex attenuate; awned; 1 -awned. Upper glume awn 0.5–1 mm long.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblate; 3.5 mm long; chartaceous; without keel; winged on margins; 3 -veined. Lemma midvein pubescent; hairy below. Lemma surface pubescent; hairy in the middle; hairy on veins. Lemma apex lobed; 2 -fid; incised 0.2 of lemma length; truncate; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn from a sinus; 5–6 mm long overall. Palea bowed outwards; 0.8 length of lemma; 2 -veined. Palea keels ciliate and with a crest of hairs; adorned in the middle (ciliate above). Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; ovoid. Embryo projecting below grain.

DISTRIBUTION South America: Brazil.

NOTES Eragrostideae. WDC.

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