Zeugites sagittatus

HABIT Perennial. Culms erect; 100 cm long; 8–10 -noded. Lateral branches lacking. Leaf-sheaths keeled. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1.5 mm long. Leaf-blade base cordate, or sagittate; with a false petiole; petiole 0.5–2.5 cm long; petiole pilose (at apex). Leaf-blades lanceolate, or oblong; 15–20 cm long; 40–60 mm wide. Leaf-blade venation with distinct cross veins. Leaf-blade margins scabrous. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; pyramidal; 20 cm long. Panicle branches capillary.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels filiform; 2–6 mm long.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets ovate; laterally compressed; 7–10 mm long; 6–7 mm wide; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes dissimilar; with lower wider than upper; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume obovate; 3 mm long; 1.5 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 9–11 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins with cross-veins. Lower glume surface pubescent. Lower glume margins ciliate. Lower glume apex truncate. Upper glume cuneate; gibbous; 2 mm long; 0.66 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 7–11 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins with cross-veins. Upper glume surface puberulous. Upper glume apex truncate.

FLORETS Fertile florets female. Fertile lemma ovate; gibbous; 3 mm long; cartilaginous; keeled; 9 -veined. Lemma lateral veins with cross-veins. Lemma surface asperulous; puberulous; hairy above. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea 2.5 mm long. Apical sterile florets 8–12 in number; male; with internodes 0.1 mm long between them; ovate; 3–4 mm long.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 2.5 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION North America: Mexico.

NOTES Centotheceae. Hartley 1994.

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