Sphenopholis nitida

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms 30–70 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades 2–8 cm long; 1–3 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous, or pubescent.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; oblong; effuse; 7–20 cm long. Primary panicle branches ascending; whorled at most nodes.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels linear; 0.2–1.5 mm long.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2–3 fertile florets; with a barren rhachilla extension. Spikelets obovate; laterally compressed; 2.5–4 mm long; falling entire. Rhachilla internodes 0.7–1 mm long; pubescent.

GLUMES Glumes dissimilar; with lower narrower than upper; shorter than spikelet; gaping. Lower glume oblong; 1.5–2.5 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume primary vein scaberulous. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex obtuse. Upper glume obovate; 1.5–2.5 mm long; 0.7 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Upper glume primary vein scaberulous. Upper glume apex truncate.

FLORETS Fertile florets all alike, or with the lowest dissimilar (smooth). Fertile lemma elliptic; 2–3.5 mm long; membranous; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma surface scaberulous; rough generally. Lemma apex obtuse, or acute; muticous, or mucronate, or awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn subapical; curved; 0–3.5 mm long overall. Palea gaping; 0.8 length of lemma. Palea keels scaberulous. Rhachilla extension 0.75 length of fertile floret.

FLOWER Ovary glabrous.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; oblong; glabrous. Endosperm liquid.

DISTRIBUTION North America: eastern Canada, north-central USA, northeast USA, south-central USA, and southeast USA.

NOTES Aveneae. Erdman.

ADDITIONAL CHARACTERS Lower glume 0.33–0.66 width of upper.

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