Schedonnardus paniculatus

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms decumbent; 8–50(–70) cm long. Leaves mostly basal. Leaf-sheaths keeled. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1–3 mm long. Leaf-blades flat to conduplicate; 2–12 cm long; 0.6–2(–3) mm wide. Leaf-blade margins scabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes; deciduous as a whole.

Racemes 4–7; borne along a central axis; distant; spreading; unilateral; 2–10(–20) cm long. Central inflorescence axis 15–60 cm long (elongating and coiling at maturity). Rhachis angular. Spikelet packing distant.

Spikelets appressed; solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets linear; laterally compressed; 3–4 mm long; falling entire; deciduous with accessory branch structures; readily shedding fertile florets.

GLUMES Glumes dissimilar; exceeding apex of florets; gaping. Lower glume lanceolate; 0.5 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex attenuate. Upper glume linear; 1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex attenuate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; 3–4 mm long; membranous; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma apex acuminate. Palea 1 length of lemma; 2 -veined.

FLOWER Lodicules absent.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; fusiform; 2.5–3.5 mm long. Embryo 0.33 length of caryopsis. Disseminule comprising a inflorescence. Secondary disseminule a floret.

DISTRIBUTION North America: western Canada, northwest USA, north-central USA, southwest USA, south-central USA, and southeast USA. South America: southern South America.

NOTES Cynodonteae. Gould.

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