Vulpia australis

HABIT Annual; caespitose. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending; 5–20 cm long. Leaf-sheaths without keel. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades 3–18 cm long; 0.5–2 mm wide; firm, or flaccid. Leaf-blade surface glabrous. Leaf-blade apex attenuate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle; exserted.

Panicle contracted, or spiciform; linear; 1–5 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels oblong.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 6–9 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong, or cuneate; laterally compressed; 5–7 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume linear to lanceolate; 2.5–4 mm long; 0.6–0.8 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; 4–5 mm long; 0.6–0.8 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels. Upper glume apex attenuate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; 3.7–5 mm long; chartaceous; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma apex acuminate; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn 7–8 mm long overall. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FRUIT Hilum linear.

DISTRIBUTION South America: northern South America, western South America, Brazil, and southern South America.

NOTES Poeae. Gr. Peru 1999.

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