Piptochaetium brachyspermum

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms 30–40 cm long. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.5–1 mm long; truncate. Leaf-blades filiform; conduplicate; 5–10 cm long; 0.5 mm wide. Leaf-blade venation with 3–4 secondary veins. Leaf-blade surface glabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; nodding; 10–15 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 14–16 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus elongated; 2.5 mm long; pubescent; pungent.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 1 length of upper glume; hyaline; without keels; 3 -veined. Lower glume apex setaceously attenuate. Upper glume lanceolate; 14–16 mm long; hyaline; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex setaceously attenuate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; laterally compressed; 5–6.5 mm long; indurate; without keel. Lemma surface striate. Lemma margins involute; interlocking with palea keels. Lemma apex scabrous; surmounted by a ring of hairs; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn eccentric; bigeniculate; 50–60 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; obovoid; 2.5 mm long. Hilum linear; 1 length of caryopsis.

DISTRIBUTION South America: southern South America.

NOTES Stipeae. Fl Pat 1995.

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