Piptochaetium montevidense

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms 30–63 cm long. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 2 mm long; 0.5 mm long on basal shoots. Leaf-blades filiform; conduplicate; 5–15 cm long; 0.5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous, or pubescent.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle; exserted, or embraced at base by subtending leaf.

Panicle contracted; linear; 2–10 cm long; 1–2 cm wide.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 3–3.5 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus brief; 0.5–1 mm long; pubescent; obtuse.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 3–3.5 mm long; 1–1.1 length of upper glume; hyaline; without keels; 5 -veined. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; 3 mm long; hyaline; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma orbicular; laterally compressed; gibbous; 1.5–2 mm long; indurate; dark brown, or black; without keel. Lemma surface tuberculate; rough generally. Lemma margins involute; interlocking with palea keels. Lemma apex with a membranous corona; with this appendage 0.5 mm long; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn eccentric; flexuous; 7–8 mm long overall; deciduous. Palea 1 length of lemma; 2 -veined. Palea keels contiguous above a sulcus.

FLOWER Lodicules 2.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; orbicular; 0.6–0.7 mm long. Hilum linear; 1 length of caryopsis.

DISTRIBUTION Australasia: Australia. South America: western South America, Brazil, and southern South America.

NOTES Stipeae. Fl Pat 1995.

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