Piptochaetium brevicalyx

HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped densely. Culms slender; 10–30 cm long; 2 -noded. Culm-nodes black. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.5–1 mm long. Leaf-blades filiform; involute; 5–15 cm long; 0.5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; linear; 2–4 cm long; bearing few spikelets. Primary panicle branches ascending; 1 cm long; bearing 1–3 fertile spikelets on each lower branch.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels 3 mm long.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 3 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume oblong; 3 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; hyaline; purple; without keels; 3 -veined. Lower glume apex obtuse. Upper glume oblong; 3 mm long; hyaline; purple; without keels; 3–5 -veined. Upper glume apex obtuse.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; laterally compressed; 3 mm long; indurate; dark brown, or purple; shiny; without keel. Lemma surface glabrous. Lemma margins involute; interlocking with palea keels. Lemma apex truncate; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn eccentric; flexuous; 5–10 mm long overall. Palea 1 length of lemma; 2 -veined. Palea keels contiguous above a sulcus.

DISTRIBUTION North America: Mexico.

NOTES Stipeae. N Amer Fl 1994.

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