Sphenopholis elongata

HABIT Annual; caespitose. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending; 10–50 cm long. Culm-internodes distally glabrous, or pubescent. Leaf-sheaths without keel; hispid; with simple hairs, or reflexed hairs. Ligule a ciliolate membrane; 1.5–2 mm long; entire, or lacerate; obtuse. Leaf-blades 2–10 cm long; 1–4 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous to pubescent.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle contracted; linear; interrupted; 5–10 cm long; 0.4–1.5 cm wide. Primary panicle branches appressed. Panicle branches glabrous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1–2 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 4–6 mm long; falling entire; readily shedding fertile florets. Floret callus evident.

GLUMES Glumes similar; with lower narrower than upper; shorter than spikelet, or reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume obovate; 4–5 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Lower glume primary vein smooth, or scaberulous. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume obovate; 4–5 mm long; 1–1.1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 5 -veined. Upper glume primary vein smooth, or scaberulous. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; 3.5–5 mm long; membranous; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma lateral veins obscure. Lemma apex lobed; 2 -fid; setaceously attenuate; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn dorsal; arising 0.75 way up back of lemma; bigeniculate; 5–8 mm long overall; with twisted column. Palea gaping; 0.66 length of lemma; hyaline. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Anthers 3.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Hilum punctiform.

DISTRIBUTION North America: northwest USA, southwest USA, south-central USA, and Mexico.

NOTES Aveneae. Gr Texas 1997.

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