Polypogon parvulus

HABIT Annual; caespitose. Basal innovations intravaginal. Culms erect; 5–10 cm long; 2 -noded. Lateral branches lacking. Leaf-sheaths scaberulous; glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1.5–2.3 mm long; erose; truncate. Leaf-blades 2 cm long; 1 mm wide. Leaf-blade midrib indistinct. Leaf-blade surface scaberulous; glabrous.

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

Panicle spiciform; linear; 3–5 cm long. Primary panicle branches 0.5–1 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels filiform, or linear; 1.5–6 mm long; scaberulous.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets cuneate; laterally compressed; 3.5–8 mm long; falling entire; deciduous with the pedicel. Floret callus glabrous.

GLUMES Glumes similar; exceeding apex of florets; firmer than fertile lemma; recurved at apex. Lower glume lanceolate; 3.5–8 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume primary vein spinulose. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute; awned; 1 -awned. Lower glume awn 3.5–4.5 mm long. Upper glume lanceolate; 3.5–8 mm long; 2 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume primary vein spinulose. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex emarginate, or obtuse; awned; 1 -awned. Upper glume awn 3.5–4.5 mm long.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 1.8 mm long; cartilaginous; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma lateral veins excurrent. Lemma surface asperulous. Lemma apex dentate; 3 -fid; truncate. Palea 0.6 mm long; 0.33 length of lemma; hyaline; 0 -veined; without keels.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; 0.5 mm long; membranous. Anthers 3; 0.5–0.6 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION South America: southern South America.

NOTES Aveneae. Rosengurtt 1996.

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