Polypogon elongatus

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending; 60–100 cm long; 1–3 mm diam. Culm-nodes constricted; brown. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 4–8 mm long; lacerate. Leaf-blades 15–30 cm long; 4–15 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle. Peduncle 10–30 cm long; glabrous.

Panicle contracted; lanceolate, or elliptic; 10–30 cm long; 1–7 cm wide. Panicle branches scabrous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels filiform; 3–5 mm long; scabrous.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets cuneate; laterally compressed; 2–3 mm long; falling entire; deciduous with the pedicel. Floret callus glabrous.

GLUMES Glumes similar; exceeding apex of florets; firmer than fertile lemma; gaping. Lower glume lanceolate; 2–3 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume surface scabrous. Lower glume apex attenuate; awned; 1 -awned. Lower glume awn 1–2 mm long. Upper glume lanceolate; 2–3 mm long; 2–3 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume surface scabrous. Upper glume apex attenuate; awned; 1 -awned. Upper glume awn 1–2 mm long.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 1–1.5 mm long; membranous; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma lateral veins excurrent. Lemma apex dentate; 4 -fid; truncate; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn from a sinus; 1.2–2 mm long overall. Palea 0.33–0.5 length of lemma; hyaline; 0 -veined.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; membranous. Anthers 3; 0.5–0.7 mm long; yellow.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION North America: southwest USA and Mexico. South America: Mesoamericana, northern South America, western South America, Brazil, and southern South America.

NOTES Aveneae. Fl Costa Rica.

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