Briza altimontana

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Basal innovations extravaginal. Culms erect; 45–77 cm long. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1.8–2.5 mm long; acute. Leaf-blades flat, or convolute; 7–45 cm long; 0.8–2.2 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle contracted; linear; equilateral; 3–7 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels smooth.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 5–8 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets obovate, or cuneate; laterally compressed; 5.5–6 mm long; 4 mm wide; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes obscured by lemmas.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume ovate; 2.3–3 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; herbaceous; 1-keeled; 5 -veined. Lower glume surface glabrous. Lower glume apex obtuse, or acute. Upper glume ovate; 2.3–3 mm long; 0.9 length of adjacent fertile lemma; herbaceous; 1-keeled; 3–5 -veined. Upper glume surface glabrous. Upper glume apex obtuse, or acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; auriculate at base; gibbous; 2.5–3.8 mm long; 1.2–2 mm wide; chartaceous, or coriaceous; much thinner on margins; keeled; 7 -veined. Lemma margins pubescent; hairy at base. Lemma apex truncate, or acute; muticous, or mucronate. Palea elliptic, or orbicular; 1.5–1.8 mm long; coriaceous; 2 -veined. Palea keels ciliolate; adorned above. Palea surface pubescent; hairy on back; with turgid hairs. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Anthers 1–2.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; orbicular; plano-convex. Hilum elliptic.

DISTRIBUTION South America: western South America.

NOTES Poeae. Essi et al 2011.

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