Piptatherum micranthum

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect; 30–60 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 4–5 mm long. Leaf-blades filiform; involute; 10–20 cm long; 0.5–2 mm wide; coriaceous; stiff. Leaf-blade surface ribbed. Leaf-blade apex attenuate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; 6–12 cm long; contracted about primary branches. Primary panicle branches 2–6 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets ovate; dorsally compressed; 2.5–4 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 2.5–4 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; hyaline; without keels; 1–3 -veined. Lower glume apex acute, or acuminate. Upper glume ovate; 2.5–4 mm long; 1.3–2 length of adjacent fertile lemma; hyaline; without keels; 1–3 -veined. Upper glume apex acute, or acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; dorsally compressed; 2 mm long; coriaceous; dark brown; shiny; without keel; 3 -veined. Lemma margins involute; exposing palea. Lemma apex obtuse; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn flexuous; 5–10 mm long overall; deciduous. Palea coriaceous; 2 -veined; without keels.

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

NOTES Stipeae. WDC.

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