Spheneria kegelii

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms 10–40 cm long. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades filiform; 3–8 cm long; 0.5–1 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface pilose; hairy abaxially; with tubercle-based hairs.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 2–3; borne along a central axis; unilateral; 1–2.5 cm long. Central inflorescence axis 0.5–1.5 cm long; tip filiform (forked). Rhachis terminating in a barren extension; extension subulate. Spikelet packing abaxial; regular; 1 -rowed.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels linear; 1.2–2 mm long; tip oblique.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets obovate (turbinate); dorsally compressed; obtuse; 2.5–3.5 mm long; falling entire. Spikelet callus linear; 1–1.5 mm long; pubescent; base pungent; attached obliquely.

GLUMES Glumes one the lower absent or obscure; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Upper glume oblong; 0.9 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 5 -veined. Upper glume surface pubescent; with a transverse fringe of hair. Upper glume apex obtuse.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret obovate; 0.9 length of spikelet; membranous; 5 -veined; pubescent; with a transverse fringe of hair; obtuse. Fertile lemma obovate; 1.5–2 mm long; indurate; dark brown; without keel. Lemma apex rostrate (slightly incurved). Palea indurate.

DISTRIBUTION South America: northern South America and Brazil.

NOTES Paniceae. WDC.

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