Pappophorum caespitosum

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms 6–80 cm long. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Leaf-sheath oral hairs bearded. Ligule a fringe of hairs; 1.5–3 mm long. Leaf-blades convolute; 5–25 cm long; 3–4 mm wide; stiff. Leaf-blade surface scabrous; rough adaxially; glabrous. Leaf-blade apex pungent.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle spiciform; linear; 4–18(–30) cm long; 1 cm wide.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1–2 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets ovate; laterally compressed; 3.5–4.5 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating above glumes but not between florets. Floret callus pilose.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 3 mm long; 0.66–0.8 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute; mucronate. Upper glume ovate; 3.5–4.5 mm long; 1.8 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acute; mucronate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 2–2.5 mm long; coriaceous; without keel; 7 -veined. Lemma midvein ciliate. Lemma inner surface glabrous. Lemma margins ciliate. Lemma apex awned; 20–22 -awned. Principal lemma awn 3.5–5.3 mm long overall. Lateral lemma awns of irregular length. Palea keels scaberulous. Apical sterile florets 2–4 in number; barren; in a clump; rudimentary. Apical sterile lemmas awned; 20–22 -awned.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 0.4–0.5 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis 2 mm long. Embryo 0.4 length of caryopsis. Hilum punctiform.

DISTRIBUTION South America: western South America and southern South America.

NOTES Pappophoreae. Fl Pat 1993.

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