Zeugites hackelii

HABIT Perennial. Rhizomes short; woody. Culms erect; robust; 200–250 cm long; 5–10 mm diam. Culm-internodes distally glabrous. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.5 mm long; brown. Leaf-blade base broadly rounded; with a brief petiole-like connection to sheath; petiole 0.05–0.2 cm long; petiole glabrous, or pubescent. Leaf-blades lanceolate, or elliptic; 20–30 cm long; 65–80 mm wide. Leaf-blade venation with distinct cross veins. Leaf-blade surface scabrous; rough adaxially; pubescent; hairy on both sides. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; 15–25 cm long; 15–20 cm wide. Panicle branches capillary.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels filiform.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 9–13 mm long; falling entire. Rhachilla internodes brief up to lowest fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes dissimilar; with lower wider than upper; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume obovate; gibbous; 3–4 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 7–9 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins with cross-veins. Lower glume surface glabrous, or pubescent; hairy above. Lower glume apex dentate; 7 -fid. Upper glume obovate; 3–4 mm long; 0.75 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 3–5 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins with cross-veins. Upper glume surface glabrous, or pubescent; hairy above. Upper glume apex truncate.

FLORETS Fertile florets female. Fertile lemma oblong; gibbous; 4–4.5 mm long; cartilaginous; keeled. Lemma apex rostrate. Apical sterile florets 6–8(–11) in number; male; ovate; 3–3.5 mm long.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 1.8–2.5 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION North America: Mexico.

NOTES Centotheceae. Fl Nov Gal 1994.

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