Pappophorum pappiferum

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms robust; 90–155(–200) cm long. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades persistent, or deciduous at the ligule; flat, or convolute; 25–60 cm long; 3–7 mm wide. Leaf-blade apex filiform.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle; embraced at base by subtending leaf.

Panicle contracted; lanceolate; 23–60 cm long; 2–10 cm wide. Primary panicle branches appressed, or ascending; 5–13 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets ovate; laterally compressed; 3–5.5 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating above glumes but not between florets.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 3–5 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; hyaline; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 3–5.5 mm long; 2 length of adjacent fertile lemma; hyaline; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 1.5–2.5 mm long; coriaceous; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma midvein ciliate. Lemma margins ciliate. Lemma apex awned; 12–15 -awned. Principal lemma awn 5–9 mm long overall; 2.5–3 length of lemma. Lateral lemma awns of irregular length. Apical sterile florets 2 in number; barren; in a clump; rudimentary. Apical sterile lemmas awned; 12–15 -awned.

FRUIT Caryopsis ovoid; 1.8 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION North America: Mexico. South America: Caribbean, northern South America, western South America, Brazil, and southern South America.

NOTES Pappophoreae. Gr Bahia 1003.

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