Anthoxanthum quebrada

HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped densely. Rhizomes elongated; scaly. Basal innovations extravaginal. Culms erect; 60–100 cm long; 2 -noded. Culm-internodes 25–35(–50) cm long; antrorsely scabrous. Culm-nodes brown; glabrous. Leaf-sheaths 10–20 cm long; mostly shorter than adjacent culm internode; ribbed; antrorsely scabrous. Leaf-sheath auricles erect; 6–11 mm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 6–8 mm long; erose. Collar dark; glabrous. Leaf-blades 20–40 cm long; 5–10 mm wide; aromatic. Leaf-blade surface ribbed; scabrous. Leaf-blade apex acute, or acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle spiciform; linear; continuous; 10–20 cm long; 1 cm wide. Panicle axis scaberulous. Panicle branches puberulous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels 1–2 mm long; pubescent.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets ovate; laterally compressed; 5–6.5 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes elongated between basal sterile florets and elongated below proximal fertile floret. Rhachilla elongation 0.3–0.5 mm long. Floret callus pilose. Floret callus hairs 0.8–1 mm long.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 4.5–6.2 mm long; 0.9 length of upper glume; scarious; 1-keeled; 1–3 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent, or distinct. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 5–6.5 mm long; scarious; 1-keeled; 1–3 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent, or distinct. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets similar; male; with palea; attached to and deciduous with the fertile. Lemma of lower sterile floret elliptic; 4.5–6.1 mm long; 1 length of fertile lemma; chartaceous; 1-keeled; 5 -veined; prominently veined; scaberulous; ciliate on margins; bearing white hairs; bearing hairs 0.7–1 mm long; acute; mucronate. Awn of lower sterile floret dorsal; arising 0.75–0.9 way up back of lemma; straight; 0.2–1.5 mm long. Palea of lower sterile floret 4.5–5.7 mm long; pubescent; adorned on keels. Lemma of upper sterile floret elliptic; 4.2–5.9 mm long; 1 length of lower sterile floret; chartaceous; scabrous; ciliate on margins; acute; awned. Awn of upper sterile floret dorsal; arising 0.5 way up back of lemma; geniculate; 3–6.6 mm long. Fertile florets female. Fertile lemma ovate; 3.4–4.5 mm long; cartilaginous; light brown; shiny; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma midvein scaberulous. Lemma surface scaberulous; rough above; puberulous; hairy above. Lemma margins convolute; covering most of palea; ciliolate; hairy above. Lemma apex acute. Palea linear; 3.8–4.8 mm long; 1 -veined; without keels. Palea apex dentate; 2 -fid.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 2.4–4.1 mm long; yellow. Staminodes two present; 0.6–1.2 mm long. Stigmas 2; protogynous; plumose. Styles 0.8–2.3 mm long; free to the base. Ovary beaked; glabrous.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; 1.3–2.2 mm long. Embryo 0.3–0.5 length of caryopsis.

DISTRIBUTION South America: western South America.

NOTES Aveneae. Connor & Renvoize 2010.

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