Pappophorum philippianum

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Butt sheaths pubescent. Culms 30–45 cm long. Leaf-sheaths pubescent; outer margin hairy. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades convolute; 8–15 cm long; 1–2 mm wide; flaccid.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle spiciform; linear; 4–10 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2–4 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets ovate; laterally compressed; 10–12 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 elliptic; 7 mm long; 0.6–0.9 length of upper glume; hyaline; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume elliptic; 8–11 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; 4–5 mm long; coriaceous; without keel; 7–9 -veined. Lemma midvein ciliate. Lemma inner surface pubescent. Lemma margins ciliate. Lemma hairs 2–4 mm long. Lemma apex awned; 11–14 -awned. Principal lemma awn 3–10 mm long overall. Lateral lemma awns of irregular length. Apical sterile florets 2 in number; barren; in a clump; elliptic; 1.5 mm long. Apical sterile lemmas awned; 11–14 -awned.

DISTRIBUTION North America: southwest USA, south-central USA, and Mexico. South America: western South America, Brazil, and southern South America.

NOTES Pappophoreae. Fl Pat 1993.

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