Torreyochloa pallida

HABIT Perennial. Culms rambling; slender; 20–50 cm long. Leaves cauline. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 3–6 mm long; white; acute. Leaf-blades 5–10 cm long; 1.5–3 mm wide. Leaf-blade apex abruptly acute.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; 6–10 cm long; 2–4 cm wide. Primary panicle branches 2–4 -nate. Panicle branches scabrous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 3–4 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 4–6 mm long; 1.5–2 mm wide; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 1–1.25 mm long; 0.75 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex obtuse. Upper glume ovate; 1.4–1.6 mm long; 0.66 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex obtuse.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic; 2–2.5 mm long; chartaceous; without keel; 7 -veined. Lemma lateral veins ribbed; extending close to apex. Lemma surface scaberulous; rough on veins. Lemma apex erose; obtuse. Palea 1.8–2.2 mm long; 2 -veined. Palea keels scaberulous. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Anthers 0.25–0.3 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis ellipsoid; 1 mm long. Hilum punctiform.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: eastern Asia. North America: Subarctic, western Canada, eastern Canada, northwest USA, north-central USA, northeast USA, southwest USA, south-central USA, southeast USA, and Mexico.

NOTES Poeae. Koyama.

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