Uniola pittieri

HABIT Perennial. Stolons present. Culms erect; 75–150 cm long; 3–4 mm diam. Leaf-sheaths longer than adjacent culm internode. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades 30–70 cm long; 8–15 mm wide; coriaceous; stiff. Leaf-blade surface ribbed.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes numerous; borne along a central axis; closely spaced; unilateral; 2–6 cm long. Central inflorescence axis 20–40 cm long. Rhachis angular; scabrous on margins. Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis; crowded; 2 -rowed.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2–6 basal sterile florets; 10–15 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets ovate; laterally compressed; compressed strongly; 8–25 mm long; falling entire. Rhachilla internodes obscured by lemmas.

GLUMES Glumes similar; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 3–6 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; chartaceous; 1-keeled; winged on keel; winged above; 3 -veined. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 3–6 mm long; 0.66–1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; chartaceous; 1-keeled; winged on keel; winged above; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets similar; barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to fertile lemma; ovate; 4.5–5.5 mm long; coriaceous; 1-keeled; winged on keel; 5 -veined; acute. Fertile lemma ovate; 4.5–5.5 mm long; coriaceous; keeled; 5 -veined. Lemma midvein scabrous. Lemma margins ciliolate. Lemma apex acute. Palea 2 -veined. Palea keels ciliolate. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 2–3 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION North America: Mexico. South America: Mesoamericana, northern South America, and western South America.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Pohl.

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