Piptochaetium fuscum

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms 20–40 cm long; 2–3 -noded. Culm-nodes brown; glabrous. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1–1.5 mm long; lacerate. Leaf-blades filiform; convolute; 10–18 cm long; 0.5 mm wide. Leaf-blade venation with 3–4 secondary veins. Leaf-blade surface glabrous, or puberulous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle; comprising 10–25 fertile spikelets.

Panicle contracted; linear; 5–10 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

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 brief; pilose; obtuse. Floret callus hairs 0.33 length of lemma.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 1 length of upper glume; hyaline; purple; without keels; 5 -veined. Lower glume apex acuminate; awned; 1 -awned. Lower glume awn 2–3 mm long. Upper glume ovate; 5–6 mm long; hyaline; purple; without keels; 5 -veined. Upper glume apex acuminate; awned; 1 -awned.

FLORETS Fertile lemma obovate; laterally compressed; gibbous; 3–3.5 mm long; indurate; dark brown; keeled; lightly keeled. Lemma surface smooth, or papillose; rough above. Lemma margins involute; interlocking with palea keels. Lemma apex awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn eccentric; geniculate; 15 mm long overall; with twisted column; deciduous. 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.