Sphenopholis longiflora

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect; 35–70 cm long. Leaf-sheaths smooth, or retrorsely scabrous; glabrous on surface to pubescent. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.7–2.6 mm long; erose. Leaf-blades 8–18 cm long; 2–10 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; linear, or lanceolate; nodding; 15–20 cm long; 1.5–2.5 cm wide. Primary panicle branches ascending; bearing spikelets almost to the base.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2–3 fertile florets; with a barren rhachilla extension. Spikelets obovate; laterally compressed; 4–5.2 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes dissimilar; with lower narrower than upper; shorter than spikelet; gaping. Lower glume linear; 3–3.9 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume elliptic, or obovate; 3–3.9 mm long; membranous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic; 3.1–4.2 mm long; membranous; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma surface smooth; glabrous. Lemma apex acute; muticous.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 0.2–0.7 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION North America: south-central USA and southeast USA.

NOTES Aveneae. Fl N Amer 2007.

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