Ortachne erectifolia

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect; 15–35 cm long. Leaves mostly basal. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 2–4 mm long. Leaf-blades erect; filiform; involute; 5–15 cm long; 0.5–1 mm wide; stiff. Leaf-blade surface scabrous. Leaf-blade apex acute; pungent.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; linear; 5–8 cm long. Panicle branches with prominent pulvini.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels linear; 1–4 mm long.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; subterete; 2.5 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus evident; pubescent; acute.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet; similar to fertile lemma in texture. Lower glume oblong; 1–1.5 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 1(–3) -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent, or obscure. Lower glume apex emarginate, or truncate. Upper glume oblong; 1–1.5 mm long; 0.5 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 1(–3) -veined. Upper glume apex emarginate, or truncate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic; 2.5 mm long; membranous; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma midvein pubescent; hairy below. Lemma lateral veins obscure. Lemma margins eciliate, or ciliate. Lemma apex acuminate; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn 3–5 mm long overall. Palea 0.9 length of lemma; 2 -veined; without keels. Palea surface glabrous, or pubescent; hairy on back.

FLOWER Lodicules 3; elliptic; membranous. Anthers 3; 0.6–0.8 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; fusiform; 1.2–1.5 mm long; dark brown.

DISTRIBUTION South America: Mesoamericana, northern South America, and western South America.

NOTES Stipeae. Pohl.

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