GrassBase - The Online World Grass Flora

Descriptions

W.D. Clayton, M. Vorontsova, K.T. Harman & H. Williamson

© Copyright The Board of Trustees, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Neobouteloua pauciracemosa

HABIT Perennial; mat forming. Basal innovations intravaginal. Culms erect; 15–21 cm long. Culm-internodes distally pilose. Culm-nodes glabrous. Leaves distichous. Leaf-sheaths longer than adjacent culm internode. Ligule a ciliate membrane; 0.25–0.5 mm long. Leaf-blades 0.7–1.5 cm long; 1–1.5 mm wide; coriaceous; stiff. Leaf-blade surface pubescent; hairy adaxially. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes (2–)3–4(–9); borne along a central axis; unilateral. Rhachis semiterete.

Spikelets appressed; solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels 0.25–0.75 mm long.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets cuneate; laterally compressed; 5–6 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus pubescent. Floret callus hairs 0.25 mm long.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 3 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute; mucronate. Upper glume ovate; 3 mm long; 1.5 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 1.75–2.5 mm long; membranous; without keel; 3 -veined. Lemma surface pilose. Lemma margins ciliate. Lemma apex dentate; 3 -fid; awned; 3 -awned. Principal lemma awn 2–3 mm long overall. Lateral lemma awns arising on apex of lobes; 1.25–2 mm long; shorter than principal. Palea 2.5–3.5 mm long. Rhachilla extension 0.75 mm long. Apical sterile florets 4 in number; barren; in a clump; ovate; 1 mm long. Apical sterile lemmas lobed; 3 -fid; awned; 3 -awned.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; 0.23 mm long; truncate. Anthers 3; 0.3–0.4 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; ellipsoid; trigonous; 1.7–2 mm long. Embryo 0.5–0.75 length of caryopsis. Hilum elliptic.

DISTRIBUTION South America: southern South America.

NOTES Cynodonteae. Lopez 2002.

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