Triniochloa talpensis

HABIT Perennial. Rhizomes elongated. Culms decumbent; robust; 60–110 cm long; 1.5–2 mm diam. Leaf-sheaths tubular for much of their length; with 1 of their length closed; mostly shorter than adjacent culm internode; pubescent. Leaf-sheath oral hairs ciliate. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1.5–2.5 mm long. Leaf-blades deciduous at the ligule; 22–27 cm long; 3–5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface ribbed; scabrous; glabrous, or pubescent; hairy adaxially. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle; comprising 30–90 fertile spikelets.

Panicle contracted; linear; 16–35 cm long; 1–2.5 cm wide. Primary panicle branches appressed, or ascending; 1–2 -nate; simple. Panicle branches scabrous.

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

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets linear; subterete; 11–16.8 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus 0.5 mm long; bearded. Floret callus hairs 3–5 mm long.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 7.5–13.6 mm long; 0.66–0.8 length of upper glume; hyaline; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 11–16.5 mm long; 1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; hyaline; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 11–14.5 mm long; coriaceous; without keel; 7 -veined. Lemma surface smooth, or scabrous; rough above. Lemma margins involute; interlocking with palea keels. Lemma apex dentate; 2 -fid; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn from a sinus; geniculate; 13–23 mm long overall; with twisted column.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; united; fleshy; truncate. Anthers 3; 4.8–7 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION North America: Mexico.

NOTES Meliceae. Gonzalez-Ledesma 2005.

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