Peyritschia conferta

HABIT Perennial. Culms slender; 50–100 cm long. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades 20–30 cm long; 2–3 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scabrous; glabrous, or pubescent; hairy adaxially.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle contracted; linear; 15 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2 fertile florets; with a barren rhachilla extension. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 5 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus pubescent.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 5 mm long; 0.9–1 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 6 mm long; 1.7 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; subterete; 3 mm long; membranous; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma apex dentate; 2 -fid; with lobes 0.5 mm long; obtuse; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn dorsal; arising 0.4–0.5 way up back of lemma; geniculate; 5–6 mm long overall; with twisted column. Column of lemma awn 2 mm long. Palea gaping; hyaline.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; obovate. Anthers 3. Ovary glabrous.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Hilum punctiform.

DISTRIBUTION South America: northern South America and western South America.

NOTES Aveneae. Gr Andes 1997.

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