Peyritschia pringlei

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms (30–)60–100 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 2–4 mm long; truncate. Leaf-blades flat, or involute; 5–15 cm long; 1–3 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle spiciform; linear; continuous, or interrupted; tapering above; 5–10(–18) cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2 fertile florets; with a barren rhachilla extension. Spikelets cuneate; laterally compressed; 4–5 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes pilose. Floret callus pubescent.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma; shiny. Lower glume lanceolate; 4–5 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 acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; 4–5 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 acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 3.3–4 mm long; cartilaginous; keeled; keeled above; 5 -veined. Lemma apex lobed; 2 -fid; obtuse; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn dorsal; arising 0.25–0.33 way up back of lemma; geniculate; 6–7 mm long overall; with twisted column. Palea 0.7–0.8 length of lemma. Rhachilla extension 0.2 length of fertile floret; pilose.

FLOWER Anthers 2; 0.8 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; fusiform; 1.5–1.6 mm long. Embryo 0.3 length of caryopsis. Endosperm liquid.

DISTRIBUTION North America: Mexico. South America: Mesoamericana.

NOTES Aveneae. WDC.

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