Piptochaetium fimbriatum

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms 30–80 cm long. Leaves mostly basal. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.5–1 mm long. Leaf-blades filiform; involute; 5–30 cm long; 0.5–1 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; 6–15 cm long. Primary panicle branches 2–10 cm long. Panicle branches capillary.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels filiform.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 5–6 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus pubescent.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 5–6 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; of similar consistency above; without keels; 3–7 -veined. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume ovate; 5–6 mm long; 1.25 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; of similar consistency above; with hyaline margins; without keels; 3–7 -veined. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; laterally compressed; gibbous; 4–5 mm long; indurate; pallid, or dark brown; without keel. Lemma surface pubescent. Lemma margins involute; interlocking with palea keels. Lemma hairs white, or red. Lemma apex truncate; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn bigeniculate; 12–18 mm long overall; with a straight or slightly twisted column. Palea 1 length of lemma; 2 -veined. Palea keels contiguous above a sulcus.

FLOWER Lodicules 3.

DISTRIBUTION North America: northwest USA, southwest USA, south-central USA, and Mexico.

NOTES Stipeae. Gould.

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