Schaffnerella gracilis

HABIT Annual; caespitose. Culms geniculately ascending; 5–12 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1 mm long. Leaf-blades 1–3 cm long; 0.5–1 mm wide. Leaf-blade apex obtuse.

INFLORESCENCE Synflorescence compound; fasciculate; with ultimate bract subtending a compact bracteolate fascicle of spikelets. Inflorescence composed of racemes; terminal and axillary; subtended by a spatheole; enclosed. Spatheole cymbiform or tubular; oblong; 0.3–0.4 cm long; hyaline.

Racemes 1; single; unilateral; 0.8–1.2 cm long; bearing few fertile spikelets; bearing 1–3 fertile spikelets on each. Rhachis angular; scabrous on margins.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; laterally compressed; 5–6 mm long; falling entire. Spikelet callus pubescent.

GLUMES Glumes one the lower absent or obscure; reaching apex of florets; firmer than fertile lemma. Upper glume oblong; 3–5 mm long; 1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; chartaceous; without keels; 7–9 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins ribbed. Upper glume apex lobed; 2 -fid; awned; 3–7 -awned. Upper glume awn 3–8 mm long.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; 3–5 mm long; membranous; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma midvein scaberulous. Lemma lateral veins ribbed. Lemma apex obtuse; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn subapical; 3–5 mm long overall. Palea lanceolate; tightly convolute around flower; 1 length of lemma; 2 -veined. Palea keels approximate. Palea apex acuminate.

DISTRIBUTION North America: Mexico.

NOTES Cynodonteae. WDC.

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