Oryzopsis asperifolia

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms geniculately ascending, or prostrate; 20–70 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades flat, or revolute; 15–40 cm long; 3–8 mm wide; glaucous. Leaf-blade surface ungrooved; scabrous. Leaf-blade apex abruptly acute.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle contracted; linear; 5–8 cm long; contracted about primary branches. Primary panicle branches appressed; indistinct the panicle almost racemose; 2–6 cm long.

Spikelets appressed; solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels 3–6 mm long.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets ovate; dorsally compressed; 6–8 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Spikelet callus pubescent. Floret callus pubescent.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 6–8 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 7 -veined. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 6–8 mm long; 1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 7 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; dorsally compressed; 6–8 mm long; coriaceous; pallid, or yellow; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma surface pubescent. Lemma margins convolute; covering most of palea. Lemma apex acute; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn flexuous; 5–10 mm long overall; deciduous. Palea coriaceous; 2 -veined; without keels.

FLOWER Styles connate below.

FRUIT Caryopsis apex rostrate.

DISTRIBUTION North America: Subarctic, western Canada, eastern Canada, northwest USA, north-central USA, northeast USA, southwest USA, and south-central USA.

NOTES Stipeae. WDC.

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