Scleropogon

HABIT Perennial. Stolons present. Culms 10–25 cm long. Ligule a fringe of hairs.

INFLORESCENCE Monoecious, or dioecious; with male and female spikelets in the same inflorescence, or with male and female spikelets in different inflorescences. Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes single; bearing few fertile spikelets; bearing 2–8 fertile spikelets on each. Spikelet packing crowded.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile. Male spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 3–5 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets linear; subterete; 25–30 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating above glumes but not between florets. Rhachilla internodes definite. Floret callus elongated; pilose; pungent.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 0.5 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Lower glume surface without pits. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; 1–1.1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile florets female. Fertile lemma oblong; subterete; coriaceous; without keel; wingless; 3 -veined. Lemma surface unwrinkled; without grooves. Lemma margins convolute. Lemma apex awned; 3 -awned. Lateral lemma awns subequal to principal. Palea 2 -veined. Palea apex awned. Apical sterile florets 1–3 in number; barren; in a clump; rudimentary. Apical sterile lemmas awned.

FLOWER Lodicules absent.

MALE Male inflorescence terminal; unlike female; a panicle, or a single raceme. Male spikelets oblong. Male spikelet glumes 2; muticous. Male spikelet lemma muticous.

DISTRIBUTION North America, or South America.

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