Polypogon imberbis

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms 15–80 cm long. Leaf-sheaths smooth, or antrorsely scabrous. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 2–5 mm long; scaberulous on abaxial surface. Leaf-blades flat, or convolute; 10–15 cm long; 2–8 mm wide. Leaf-blade margins scabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle spiciform; linear, or oblong; interrupted; 5–25 cm long. Primary panicle branches 0.5–5 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels filiform; 1–3 mm long; scabrous.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; laterally compressed; 3.5–4.5 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; 3.5–4.5 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume surface scabrous. Lower glume apex acute; awned; 1 -awned. Lower glume awn 1–2 mm long. Upper glume lanceolate; 3.5–4.5 mm long; 2.2 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume surface scabrous. Upper glume apex acute; awned; 1 -awned. Upper glume awn 1–2 mm long.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 1.6–2 mm long; membranous; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma apex dentate; 4 -fid; truncate; muticous, or mucronate. Principal lemma awn from a sinus. Palea 0.6–0.7 length of lemma; hyaline.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; 0.4 mm long; membranous. Anthers 3; 0.7–0.8 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; fusiform; 1.5 mm long. Endosperm soft.

DISTRIBUTION South America: southern South America.

NOTES Aveneae. Fl Pat.

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