Pappophorum vaginatum

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending; 30–80 cm long. Culm-internodes distally glabrous. Leaf-sheath oral hairs ciliate. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades flat, or involute; 10–20 cm long; 1.5–5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scabrous; rough adaxially; glabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle spiciform; linear; 12–25 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1(–2) fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets ovate; laterally compressed; 6–8 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating above glumes but not between florets. Floret callus pilose.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 3–4 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex emarginate, or acute; mucronate. Upper glume ovate; 3–4 mm long; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex emarginate, or acute; mucronate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 2–3 mm long; chartaceous; without keel; 11–15 -veined. Lemma midvein pubescent; hairy below. Lemma margins pubescent; hairy below. Lemma apex awned; 11–15 -awned. Principal lemma awn 2.5–5 mm long overall. Lateral lemma awns of irregular length. Palea 2 -veined. Palea keels ciliolate. Apical sterile florets distinct from fertile; 2 in number; barren; in a clump; oblong. Apical sterile lemmas awned; 11–15 -awned.

DISTRIBUTION North America: southwest USA, south-central USA, and Mexico.

NOTES Pappophoreae. Gr Texas 20–1.

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