Bothriochloa eurylemma

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect; 90–165 cm long; 5–9 -noded. Culm-internodes distally glabrous. Culm-nodes bearded. Leaf-sheaths mostly shorter than adjacent culm internode; glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1.6–4 mm long; glabrous on abaxial surface. Leaf-blades 5–18 cm long; 2–8 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scaberulous; rough abaxially. Leaf-blade margins scaberulous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes. Peduncle 20–34 cm long; glabrous.

Racemes numerous; borne along a central axis; closely spaced; 2.5–6 cm long. Central inflorescence axis 7–14 cm long. Rhachis fragile at the nodes; flattened; plumose on margins. Rhachis hairs 3–6 mm long. Rhachis internodes linear; 1.9–3.3 mm long. Rhachis internode tip transverse; cupuliform.

Spikelets in pairs. Fertile spikelets sessile; 1 in the cluster. Companion sterile spikelets pedicelled; 1 in the cluster. Pedicels linear; flattened; 2.2–2.4 mm long; with a translucent median line (also present in internodes); plumose; with 3.7–7 mm long hairs.

STERILE SPIKELETS Companion sterile spikelets represented by single glumes; linear; 2.7–4.8 mm long; shorter than fertile; separately deciduous. Companion sterile spikelet glumes glabrous.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; dorsally compressed; 3.7–5 mm long; falling entire; deciduous with accessory branch structures. Spikelet callus bearded; base obtuse; attached transversely. Spikelet callus hairs 1.6–2.8 mm long.

GLUMES Glumes dissimilar; exceeding apex of florets; firmer than fertile lemma. Lower glume elliptic; 1 length of spikelet; cartilaginous; without keels; keel-less except near apex; 6 -veined. Lower glume primary vein scaberulous (above). Lower glume surface flat; glabrous, or puberulous. Lower glume apex entire, or dentate; 2 -fid. Upper glume elliptic; 1 length of spikelet; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Upper glume primary vein scaberulous. Upper glume apex acute, or acuminate.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret lanceolate; 2.2–2.4 mm long; hyaline; acute. Fertile lemma linear; 1.2–2.8 mm long; hyaline; without keel. Lemma apex entire; muticous, or awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn apical; straight; 1.2–7 mm long overall; without a column. Palea lanceolate; 0.9–1.9 mm long; membranous.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 0.6–0.9 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; ovoid; 2.3 mm long; dark brown.

DISTRIBUTION South America: Brazil.

NOTES Andropogoneae. Marchi & L.-Wag. 2004.

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