Lepturidium

HABIT Perennial. Culms decumbent; 10–30 cm long; wiry. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades coriaceous; stiff.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes; embraced at base by subtending leaf.

Racemes single; unilateral. Rhachis angular. Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis; lax; 2 -rowed.

Spikelets appressed; solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; with a barren rhachilla extension, or with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 2.49–3.6 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus pubescent.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma; gaping. Lower glume linear; 1 length of upper glume; coriaceous; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume surface without pits. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume linear; 1.25 length of adjacent fertile lemma; coriaceous; without keels; 1 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic; membranous; without keel; wingless; 3 -veined. Lemma surface unwrinkled; without grooves; pubescent. Lemma apex dentate; 2 -fid; mucronate. Apical sterile florets 0–1 in number; barren; lanceolate.

FLOWER Anthers 3.

DISTRIBUTION South America.

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