Zeugites smilacifolius

HABIT Perennial; culms solitary, or caespitose. Culms erect; robust; 100–250 cm long. Culm-internodes distally glabrous. Lateral branches sparse. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 3–8 mm long. Leaf-blade base broadly rounded; with a false petiole; petiole 1.5–3.5 cm long. Leaf-blades ovate; 5–12 cm long; 25–60 mm wide. Leaf-blade venation with distinct cross veins. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; 10–15 cm long; 8–12 cm wide.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels filiform; 0.5–15 mm long.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 9–15 mm long; falling entire. Rhachilla internodes elongated between glumes. Rhachilla elongation 0.5–0.7 mm long.

GLUMES Glumes dissimilar; with lower wider than upper; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume obovate; 2–3 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 7–9 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins with cross-veins. Lower glume apex dentate; 3–5 -fid. Upper glume oblong; 2–3 mm long; 0.66–0.75 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 3–5 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins with cross-veins. Upper glume apex erose; truncate.

FLORETS Fertile florets female. Fertile lemma oblong; gibbous; 3–4.2 mm long; cartilaginous; keeled. Lemma apex erose; truncate. Palea 3.5–5 mm long. Palea keels ciliate. Apical sterile florets 2–3(–5) in number; male; ovate; 4–5 mm long. Apical sterile lemmas glabrous, or pubescent; adorned on margins.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 2.7–3.6 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; fusiform; 2 mm long; yellow.

DISTRIBUTION North America: Mexico.

NOTES Centotheceae. Fl Nov Gal 1994.

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