Tridens carolinianus

HABIT Perennial. Rhizomes elongated; scaly. Butt sheaths pubescent. Culms erect; 80–120 cm long. Ligule a fringe of hairs; 0.5–1 mm long. Leaf-blades 15–35 cm long; 2–7 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous. Leaf-blade margins glandular.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; linear, or lanceolate; 10–20 cm long. Primary panicle branches appressed, or ascending.

Spikelets 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; 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; 4–5 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex emarginate; mucronate. 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 emarginate; mucronate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 4–5 mm long; membranous; without keel; 3 -veined. Lemma midvein pubescent; hairy below. Lemma lateral veins excurrent. Lemma margins pubescent; hairy below. Lemma apex dentate; 2 -fid; mucronate. Palea bowed outwards; 4–5 mm long. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Anthers 3.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; ellipsoid; 2–2.5 mm long. Embryo not projecting. Hilum punctiform.

DISTRIBUTION North America: southeast USA.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Man US Gr 1993.

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