Triniochloa laxa

HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped densely. Rhizomes elongated. Culms decumbent; 30–40 cm long. Leaf-sheaths tubular for much of their length; with 1 of their length closed; glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1–3 mm long. Leaf-blades 15–30 cm long; 3–4 mm wide; glaucous and mid-green; discolorous with last colour beneath. Leaf-blade surface scabrous; rough adaxially. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; linear; 5–10 cm long; bearing few spikelets. Primary panicle branches appressed; simple; bearing 1–3 fertile spikelets on each lower branch.

Spikelets appressed; solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels filiform.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets linear; subterete; 15 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus bearded. Floret callus hairs 3–5 mm long; 0.2–0.33 length of lemma.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 12 mm long; 0.75 length of upper glume; hyaline; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 15 mm long; 1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; hyaline; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 14 mm long; coriaceous; mid-green and purple; mottled with last colour; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma margins involute; interlocking with palea keels. Lemma apex dentate; 2 -fid; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn dorsal; arising 0.5 way up back of lemma; geniculate; 15 mm long overall; with twisted column. Palea 1 length of lemma; coriaceous. Palea keels contiguous above a sulcus.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; united; fleshy; truncate. Anthers 3.

DISTRIBUTION North America: Mexico.

NOTES Meliceae. Mex Gr 1997.

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