Rhombolytrum koelerioides

HABIT Perennial. Culms erect; 40–65 cm long; 2 mm diam.; 3 -noded. Culm-nodes brown; glabrous. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1.5–2 mm long; lacerate. Leaf-blades flat, or convolute; 15–20 cm long; 3–4 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous. Leaf-blade apex attenuate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle contracted; linear; interrupted; 8–10 cm long; 0.75 cm wide.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels linear.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 4 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets lanceolate; laterally compressed; 6–7 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes 0.2–0.5 mm long. Floret callus pubescent.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet; firmer than fertile lemma. Lower glume elliptic; 1 length of upper glume; chartaceous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Lower glume primary vein scabrous. Lower glume surface asperulous. Lower glume apex obtuse. Upper glume elliptic; 3 mm long; 1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; chartaceous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Upper glume primary vein scabrous. Upper glume surface asperulous. Upper glume apex obtuse.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic; thickened on margins at base; dorsally compressed; 3 mm long; membranous; firmer on margins; keeled; lightly keeled; 5 -veined. Lemma midvein scaberulous. Lemma surface asperulous. Lemma margins eciliate, or ciliate; hairy below. Lemma apex dentate; 2 -fid; muticous, or mucronate. Palea 2 -veined. Palea keels ciliolate. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Anthers 1; 0.5–1 mm long. Ovary glabrous.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Hilum punctiform.

DISTRIBUTION South America: southern South America.

NOTES Poeae. Parodi.

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