Piptochaetium tovarii

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms 30–60 cm long; 2–3 -noded. Leaf-sheaths 3–5.5 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1.5–2.5 mm long; obtuse. Leaf-blades curved, or flexuous; flat, or conduplicate; 10–20 cm long; 1–2 mm wide.

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

Panicle contracted; linear, or oblong; 5–11 cm long; 0.5–1 cm wide. Primary panicle branches appressed. Panicle branches flexuous; scabrous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels 1.25–2.5 mm long.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 3.5–5.75 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus 0.25 mm long; glabrous.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 1 length of upper glume; hyaline; without keels; 3–5 -veined. Lower glume apex setaceously attenuate. Upper glume ovate; 3.5–5.75 mm long; hyaline; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex setaceously attenuate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; laterally compressed; gibbous; 2.2–3.5 mm long; indurate; dark brown; without keel. Lemma surface striate. Lemma margins involute; interlocking with palea keels. Lemma apex truncate; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn eccentric; flexuous; 6–10 mm long overall; deciduous; limb puberulous; glabrescent towards tip. Palea 1 length of lemma; 2 -veined. Palea keels contiguous above a sulcus.

FLOWER Anthers 1.25 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; oblong; 1.75 mm long; truncate.

DISTRIBUTION South America: western South America.

NOTES Stipeae. Sanchez 1995.

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