Piptochaetium lasianthum

HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped loosely. Culms 30–70 cm long; 2–3 -noded. Culm-nodes glabrous. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.5–1 mm long; entire, or bilobed; truncate. Leaf-blades flexuous; filiform; convolute; 15–30 cm long; 0.5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; nodding; 10–25 cm long. Primary panicle branches whorled at lower nodes; 5–8 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels glabrous, or puberulous.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 6.5–7 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus evident; 0.75 mm long; pubescent; obtuse.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 6.5–7 mm long; 1.1 length of upper glume; hyaline; purple; without keels; 5 -veined. Lower glume apex acuminate; awned; 1 -awned. Lower glume awn 1.5 mm long. Upper glume lanceolate; 6 mm long; hyaline; purple; without keels; 5 -veined. Upper glume apex acuminate; awned; 1 -awned. Upper glume awn 1.5 mm long.

FLORETS Fertile lemma obovate; laterally compressed; gibbous; 3–3.2 mm long; indurate; dark brown; without keel. Lemma surface pilose. Lemma margins involute; interlocking with palea keels. Lemma hairs dark brown; 6 mm long. Lemma apex awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn eccentric; bigeniculate; 15–20 mm long overall; with twisted column. Column of lemma awn 5 mm long. Palea 1 length of lemma; 2 -veined. Palea keels contiguous above a sulcus.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 1.5 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; 1.5–2 mm long. Hilum linear.

DISTRIBUTION South America: Brazil and southern South America.

NOTES Stipeae. Parodi 1995.

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