Gymnopogon fastigiatus

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms 35–80 cm long. Leaves distichous. Leaf-sheaths without keel. Ligule a ciliolate membrane; 0.1–0.2 mm long. Leaf-blade base cordate. Leaf-blades flat, or involute; 2–4.5 cm long; 1–4 mm wide; stiff. Leaf-blade midrib indistinct.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 3–11; digitate; unilateral; 3–7 cm long. Rhachis angular; scabrous on margins. Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis; lax; 2 -rowed.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels oblong.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; with a barren rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; laterally compressed; 2.5 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; similar to fertile lemma in texture; gaping. Lower glume lanceolate; 2.5 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume primary vein scabrous. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; 2.5 mm long; 1.7 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume primary vein scabrous. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic; 1.5 mm long; membranous; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma margins ciliate; hairy above. Lemma apex dentate; 2 -fid; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn subapical; flexuous; 8–15 mm long overall. Rhachilla extension 0.75 length of fertile floret.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 0.7 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; ellipsoid; 1.3–1.8 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION South America: Mesoamericana, northern South America, western South America, and Brazil.

NOTES Cynodonteae. Pohl.

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