Steinchisma hians

HABIT Perennial. Culms erect, or decumbent; 20–75 cm long. Ligule a ciliolate membrane; 0.5 mm long. Leaf-blades 6–18 cm long; 2–5 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; lanceolate, or ovate; 6–20 cm long; contracted about primary branches, or contracted about secondary branches, or with spikelets clumped along branches.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic, or oblong; laterally compressed; acute; 1.8–2.6 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes dissimilar; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 0.33–0.5 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 3(–5) -veined. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume elliptic, or oblong; membranous; without keels; 3–5 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins prominent. Upper glume apex obtuse, or acute.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; with palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; elliptic, or ovate; 1 length of spikelet; chartaceous; 3–5 -veined; prominently veined; acute. Palea of lower sterile floret becoming indurate on flanks at maturity (and orbicular). Fertile lemma elliptic, or oblong; 1.3–2.1 mm long; coriaceous; pallid; without keel; 3 -veined. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex acute. Palea coriaceous; without keels.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: south. Australasia: Australia. North America: north-central USA, south-central USA, southeast USA, and Mexico. South America: Mesoamericana, western South America, Brazil, and southern South America.

NOTES Paniceae. WDC 2000.

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