Oryzopsis pungens

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect; 15–40 cm long. Lateral branches lacking. Leaves mostly basal. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 2 mm long. Leaf-blades involute; 10–25 cm long; 1 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scabrous; rough adaxially, or on both sides.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; lanceolate; 3–6 cm long; bearing few spikelets. Primary panicle branches appressed, or ascending, or spreading; 1–2 -nate; 1–3 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets oblong; dorsally compressed; 3.5–4 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 oblong; 3–3.5 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 5 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins obscure. Lower glume apex truncate. Upper glume oblong; 3–3.5 mm long; 0.9 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 5 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins obscure. Upper glume apex truncate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; dorsally compressed; 3.5–4 mm long; coriaceous; without keel. Lemma surface pubescent. Lemma margins convolute; covering most of palea. Lemma apex acute; muticous, or awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn 0–2 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, and northeast USA.

NOTES Stipeae. Gr Indiana 1994.

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