Vulpia antucensis

HABIT Annual; caespitose. Culms 5–20 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades filiform; convolute; 2–10 cm long; 0.5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface pubescent; hairy adaxially.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle contracted; linear; 2–8 cm long. Panicle axis scabrous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 3–6 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong, or cuneate; laterally compressed; 5–9 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes 0.8–1 mm long; scaberulous. Floret callus glabrous.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume linear; 3–4 mm long; 0.66–0.75 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate, or oblong; 4–4.5 mm long; 0.75–0.9 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; 4.5–6 mm long; chartaceous; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma surface pubescent. Lemma apex acuminate; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn 4–6 mm long overall. Palea lanceolate; 1 length of lemma; 2 -veined. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Anthers 1; retained within floret. Ovary glabrous.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; 3.5 mm long; glabrous. Embryo 0.2 length of caryopsis.

DISTRIBUTION South America: southern South America.

NOTES Poeae. Fl Pat 1993.

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