Plagiantha tenella

HABIT Annual; caespitose. Culms erect, or decumbent; 30–80 cm long; rooting from lower nodes. Ligule a ciliolate membrane. Leaf-blade base broadly rounded. Leaf-blades lanceolate; 5–10 cm long; 3–7 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; 5–8 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets oblong; tilted on the pedicel; dorsally compressed; 2.2–2.8 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes dissimilar; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume oblate; 0.33 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 3(–5) -veined. Lower glume apex obtuse. Upper glume ovate; 0.8 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 5 -veined. Upper glume apex obtuse.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; with palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret oblong; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 2-keeled; 2(–4) -veined; sulcate; obtuse. Palea of lower sterile floret becoming indurate on flanks at maturity. Fertile lemma ovate; 2.2–2.8 mm long; coriaceous; without keel. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex acute. Palea coriaceous.

DISTRIBUTION South America: Brazil.

NOTES Paniceae. WDC.

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