Tridens buckleyanus

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms 40–80 cm long. Culm-internodes distally glabrous. Culm-nodes glabrous, or pubescent. Leaf-sheaths without keel; antrorsely scabrous. Ligule a ciliate membrane; 0.4–1 mm long. Collar glabrous. Leaf-blades 1–4 mm wide. Leaf-blade margins scabrous. Leaf-blade apex attenuate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; 10–28 cm long. Primary panicle branches ascending, or spreading; distant; sparsely divided; 4–13 cm long. Panicle axis scabrous. Panicle branches stiff; straight; bearing distant spikelets; scabrous.

Spikelets appressed; solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 3–5 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 7–10 mm long; 2–3 mm wide; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus pubescent.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet; similar to fertile lemma in texture. Lower glume oblong; 5–6 mm long; 1.2 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex obtuse, or acute. Upper glume oblong; 4–5 mm long; 1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex obtuse, or acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic; 4–6 mm long; membranous; pallid, or purple; without keel; 3 -veined. Lemma midvein pubescent; hairy below. Lemma lateral veins obscure; extending close to apex. Lemma margins pubescent; hairy below. Lemma apex emarginate, or obtuse; muticous, or mucronate. Palea bowed outwards; 3–5 mm long. Palea keels pubescent; adorned below. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; oblong; 2.5 mm long; reticulate. Embryo not projecting.

DISTRIBUTION North America: south-central USA.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Gr Texas 1993.

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