Podophorus bromoides

HABIT Perennial. Culms decumbent; 30–40 cm long. Leaf-sheaths pubescent. Ligule an eciliate membrane; lacerate. Leaf-blades 5–15 cm long; 2–5 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; elliptic; 5–7 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets cuneate; laterally compressed; 9–12 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus pubescent.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; reaching apex of florets, or shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma; gaping. Lower glume linear; 5–9 mm long; 0.75 length of upper glume; herbaceous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume linear; 7–12 mm long; 0.75–1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; herbaceous; 1-keeled; 3–5 -veined. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; subterete; 9–12 mm long; coriaceous; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma margins convolute; covering most of palea. Lemma apex acuminate; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn flexuous; reflexed; 20–25 mm long overall. Palea coriaceous. Apical sterile florets 1 in number; barren; rudimentary. Apical sterile lemmas awned; 1 -awned. Apical sterile lemma awns 6–12 mm long.

FLOWER Ovary unappendaged; pubescent on apex.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Hilum linear.

DISTRIBUTION South America: southern South America.

NOTES Poeae. WDC.

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