Dissanthelium laxifolium

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms decumbent; 8–13 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 2–2.5 mm long. Leaf-blades involute; 2.5–8 cm long; 2–3 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scaberulous; rough adaxially; glabrous. Leaf-blade apex acute.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle; shorter than basal leaves.

Panicle open; oblong, or ovate; 3–4.5 cm long; 1–1.7 cm wide. Primary panicle branches ascending, or spreading.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets ovate; laterally compressed; 3.5–4 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes 0.3 mm long.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Lower glume primary vein smooth, or scaberulous. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; 3.3–4 mm long; 1.7–2 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Upper glume primary vein smooth, or scaberulous. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 1.9–2.1 mm long; chartaceous; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma surface scaberulous; rough above. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea keels smooth, or scaberulous.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 0.4–0.5 mm long. Ovary glabrous.

FRUIT Endosperm farinose.

DISTRIBUTION South America: western South America.

NOTES Aveneae. Swallen.

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