Peyritschia humilis

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms 5–12 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane; lacerate. Leaf-blades 2.5–3.5 cm long; 1–2 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle spiciform; linear; 2.5 cm long; 0.5 cm wide.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels glabrous.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets cuneate; laterally compressed; 4 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes 0.5 mm long; pilose; with 0.5–0.8 mm long hairs. Floret callus pubescent; obtuse.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma; shiny. Lower glume lanceolate; 4 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume primary vein scaberulous. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 4 mm long; 1.2–1.3 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume primary vein scaberulous. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 3–3.5 mm long; cartilaginous; 5 -veined. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex lobed; 2 -fid; obtuse; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn dorsal; arising 0.33–0.5 way up back of lemma; geniculate; 4–5 mm long overall; with twisted column.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; fusiform; 2 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION North America: Mexico.

NOTES Aveneae. Finot 2005.

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