Piptochaetium alpinum

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Rhizomes short. Culms erect; 20–30 cm long; 2 -noded. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.5–1 mm long. Leaf-blades flat, or convolute; 8 cm long; 1 mm wide. Leaf-blade apex acute.

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

Panicle open; ovate; 6 cm long; bearing few spikelets.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without 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; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 0.75 length of upper glume; hyaline; without keels. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume ovate; 4 mm long; 0.75 length of adjacent fertile lemma; hyaline; without keels. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; laterally compressed; 5 mm long; indurate; without keel. Lemma surface pubescent; hairy all along. Lemma margins involute; interlocking with palea keels. Lemma hairs tawny. Lemma apex truncate; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn eccentric; bigeniculate; 20 mm long overall; with twisted column. Column of lemma awn puberulous. Palea 1 length of lemma; 2 -veined. Palea keels contiguous above a sulcus.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION South America: Brazil.

NOTES Stipeae. Fl Cat 1995.

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