Aphanelytrum peruvianum

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Basal innovations extravaginal. Culms geniculately ascending; 14–24 cm long. Culm-internodes 0.3–1.3 cm long. Leaf-sheaths longer than adjacent culm internode; keeled. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 2–3 mm long; erose, or lacerate. Leaf-blades flat, or involute; 3–7 cm long; 0.2–1.2 mm wide; 1.6 cm long at summit of culm. Leaf-blade apex hooded.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle; comprising 5–10 fertile spikelets.

Panicle open; linear; 1.7–2.5 cm long. Primary panicle branches appressed; simple; bearing 2 fertile spikelets on each lower branch. Panicle branches flexuous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 3 fertile florets; with a barren rhachilla extension. Spikelets oblong, or cuneate; laterally compressed; 5–7 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes 1.2–2 mm long.

GLUMES Glumes two; persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume linear; 1–2 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 1–2 mm long; 0.25–0.33 length of adjacent fertile lemma; 3(–4) -veined. Upper glume apex entire, or dentate; 2 -fid; acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; 2.2–3.5 mm long; herbaceous; keeled; 3–5 -veined. Lemma apex dentate; 3 -fid; with lobes 0.1–0.3 mm long. Palea 2–3.2 mm long. Palea keels scabrous. Palea apex dentate; 2 -fid.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; lanceolate; 0.7–0.8 mm long. Anthers 3; 2–2.9 mm long; yellow. Ovary glabrous.

DISTRIBUTION South America: western South America.

NOTES Poeae. Sanchez Vega et al 2009.

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