Tridens strictus

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect; 50–170 cm long. Leaf-sheaths without keel. Ligule a fringe of hairs; 0.5 mm long. Leaf-blades 2–8 mm wide. Leaf-blade apex attenuate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle contracted; lanceolate; 10–36 cm long; 1–2 cm wide. Primary panicle branches appressed; 2–6 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 5–11 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets cuneate; laterally compressed; 4–7 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus pubescent.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 4–7 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acuminate; mucronate. Upper glume lanceolate; 4–7 mm long; 2 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic; 2–3 mm long; chartaceous; without keel; 3 -veined. Lemma midvein pubescent; hairy below. Lemma lateral veins close to margins; excurrent, or extending close to apex. Lemma margins pubescent; hairy below. Lemma apex dentate; 2 -fid; mucronate. Palea straight; 1 length of lemma. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; obovoid; dorsally compressed; 1 mm long.

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

NOTES Eragrostideae. Gould.

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