Aphanelytrum procumbens

HABIT Perennial; mat forming. Culms prostrate; 30–50 cm long (long); rooting from lower nodes. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 2 mm long. Leaf-blades 3–10 cm long; 2–3 mm wide; flaccid.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; oblong; effuse; 6–22 cm long. Primary panicle branches whorled at most nodes; simple; bearing 2–3 fertile spikelets on each lower branch. Panicle branches capillary.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels filiform.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2–3 fertile florets; with a barren rhachilla extension. Spikelets linear; laterally compressed; 7–12 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes 1.5–2 mm long; eventually visible between lemmas.

GLUMES Glumes both absent or obscure (rarely to 1mm long).

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; 4–9 mm long; herbaceous; keeled; 5 -veined. Lemma surface scaberulous. Lemma apex setaceously attenuate. Palea keels eciliate.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 4 mm long. Ovary glabrous.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Hilum elliptic.

DISTRIBUTION South America: western South America.

NOTES Poeae. WDC.

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