Piptochaetium hirtum

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect; 20–35 cm long; 2 -noded. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.5 mm long. Leaf-blades flexuous; filiform; 5–10 cm long; 0.5 mm wide. Leaf-blade venation with 3 secondary veins. Leaf-blade surface hirsute.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle contracted; linear; 5–7 cm long; 0.5–1 cm wide; bearing few spikelets. Panicle axis glabrous, or puberulous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels pubescent.

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

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 1 length of upper glume; hyaline; dark brown, or purple; without keels; 5 -veined. Lower glume apex acuminate; awned; 1 -awned. Lower glume awn 2 mm long. Upper glume ovate; 6 mm long; hyaline; dark brown, or purple; without keels; 5 -veined. Upper glume apex acuminate; awned; 1 -awned. Upper glume awn 2 mm long.

FLORETS Fertile lemma obovate; laterally compressed; gibbous; 3 mm long; indurate; dark brown; without keel. Lemma margins involute; interlocking with palea keels. Lemma apex awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn eccentric; geniculate; 8–15 mm long overall; with twisted column; deciduous. Column of lemma awn puberulous. Palea 1 length of lemma; 2 -veined. Palea keels contiguous above a sulcus.

FLOWER Anthers 3.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Hilum linear.

DISTRIBUTION South America: southern South America.

NOTES Stipeae. Parodi 1995.

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