Zeugites capillaris

HABIT Perennial. Rhizomes short; woody. Culms erect; 100–200 cm long. Lateral branches sparse. Leaf-sheaths outer margin hairy. Leaf-sheath auricles erect. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.5–1 mm long; brown. Leaf-blade base broadly rounded; with a brief petiole-like connection to sheath; petiole 0.1–0.5 cm long; petiole pilose. Leaf-blades lanceolate, or elliptic; 20–26 cm long; 40–60 mm wide. Leaf-blade venation with distinct cross veins. Leaf-blade surface scaberulous; pubescent; hairy on both sides. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate, or pyramidal; 15–25 cm long. Primary panicle branches ascending, or spreading.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels filiform; 2–5 mm long; tip cupuliform.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 8–9 mm long; falling entire. Rhachilla internodes elongated between glumes. Rhachilla elongation 0.5 mm long.

GLUMES Glumes dissimilar; with lower wider than upper; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume obovate; 3–5 mm long; 1.5–2.5 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 7–9 -veined. Lower glume surface pubescent; hairy above. Lower glume apex truncate. Upper glume obovate; gibbous; 2 mm long; 0.66 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 7–9 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins with cross-veins. Upper glume surface pubescent; hairy above. Upper glume apex truncate.

FLORETS Fertile florets female. Fertile lemma oblong; gibbous; 3–3.5 mm long; cartilaginous; keeled. Lemma apex rostrate. Palea 3 mm long. Apical sterile florets 3–8 in number; male; ovate; 3–5 mm long.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 2.5–3.5 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; orbicular; 1.5 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION North America: Mexico.

NOTES Centotheceae. Fl Nov Gal 1994.

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