Piptochaetium cucullatum

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms 20–30 cm long. Leaves mostly basal. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades filiform; convolute; 3–8 cm long; 0.5 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle contracted; linear; 3–6 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 4–5 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus pubescent; truncate.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 1 length of upper glume; hyaline; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume ovate; 4–5 mm long; hyaline; without keels; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma obovate; laterally compressed; 2.5–2.8 mm long; indurate; without keel. Lemma margins involute; interlocking with palea keels. Lemma apex truncate; with a conical beak; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn eccentric; straight; 1–1.2 mm long overall. Palea 1 length of lemma; 2 -veined. Palea keels contiguous above a sulcus.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION South America: southern South America.

NOTES Stipeae. Fl Entre Rios 1995.

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