Piptochaetium pringlei

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect; 40–100(–120) cm long. Culm-internodes distally glabrous. Culm-nodes glabrous, or pubescent. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1–3 mm long. Leaf-blades flat, or involute; 20–35 cm long; 1–3 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle contracted; linear; nodding; 8–15(–20) cm long. Primary panicle branches ascending.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; subterete; 9–11 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus evident; 1 mm long; pubescent; obtuse.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 9–11 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; hyaline; without keels; 5–9 -veined. Lower glume apex acuminate, or setaceously attenuate. Upper glume lanceolate; 9–11 mm long; 1.3 length of adjacent fertile lemma; hyaline; without keels; 5–9 -veined. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; subterete; 7–8.5 mm long; 1–1.5 mm wide; coriaceous; dark brown; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma lateral veins ribbed. Lemma surface pubescent. Lemma margins convolute; covering most of palea. Lemma hairs tawny. Lemma apex awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn geniculate, or bigeniculate; 20–30 mm long overall; with a straight or slightly twisted column. Column of lemma awn glabrous. Palea without keels.

FLOWER Lodicules 2. Anthers 3. Stigmas 2. Ovary glabrous.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Hilum linear.

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

NOTES Stipeae. Gr Texas 1994.

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