Trisetum brasiliense

HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped densely. Culms erect; 35–50 cm long. Culm-internodes smooth; distally glabrous. Leaf-sheaths striately veined. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.5–1 mm long; bilobed. Leaf-blades filiform; involute; 25 cm long; 1–1.5 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle lanceolate; 5–8 cm long; 1 cm wide; bearing few spikelets.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2 fertile florets; with a barren rhachilla extension. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 5 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes pubescent. Floret callus pubescent.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; shiny. Lower glume ovate; 5 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume ovate; 5 mm long; 1.1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 4.5 mm long; 2 mm wide; cartilaginous; shiny; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma apex dentate; 2 -fid; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn dorsal; arising 0.1 way up back of lemma; geniculate; 5–6 mm long overall; with twisted column. Palea 1 length of lemma. Palea keels ciliolate.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; membranous. Anthers 3; 2 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION South America: Brazil.

NOTES Aveneae. Louis-Marie 2002.

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