Opizia stolonifera

HABIT Perennial; mat forming. Stolons present. Culms 5–25 cm long. Ligule a ciliolate membrane. Leaf-blades 1–12 cm long; 1–2 mm wide. Leaf-blade apex obtuse.

INFLORESCENCE Monoecious, or dioecious; with male and female spikelets in different inflorescences. Inflorescence composed of racemes; bracteate at pedicel base (subulate, 0.5–1mm); embraced at base by subtending leaf.

Racemes 1; single; unilateral; 1–2.5 cm long. Rhachis angular. Spikelet packing lax.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile. Male spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets lanceolate; laterally compressed; 2 mm long; falling entire. Spikelet callus square; pubescent.

GLUMES Glumes one the lower absent or obscure; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Upper glume lanceolate; 2 mm long; 1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume surface pilose. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile florets female. Fertile lemma ovate; 2 mm long; coriaceous; much thinner above; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma apex lobed; 3 -fid; with central lobe bidentate; awned; 3 -awned. Principal lemma awn from a sinus; 5–7 mm long overall. Lateral lemma awns arising on inner edge of lobes; 5–7 mm long; subequal to principal. Palea fused below to rhachilla internode; orbicular; 1 length of lemma; cartilaginous; 2 -veined. Palea keels winged. Apical sterile florets 1 in number; lanceolate; 1.5 mm long. Apical sterile lemmas awned; 3 -awned. Apical sterile lemma awns 4–6 mm long; 3 per spikelet in number.

MALE Male inflorescence terminal; unlike female; a single raceme, or of racemes along a central axis; with pectinate racemes. Male spikelets distinct from female; 1 flowered; lanceolate; 3 mm long; glabrous. Male spikelet glumes 2. Male spikelet lemma 3 -veined; muticous.

DISTRIBUTION North America: Mexico. South America: Mesoamericana and Caribbean.

NOTES Cynodonteae. WDC.

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