Blepharoneuron tricholepis

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms 30–70 cm long. Culm-nodes glabrous. Leaves mostly basal. Leaf-sheaths without keel; glabrous on surface. Ligule a ciliolate membrane; 0.3–0.5 mm long. Leaf-blades filiform; involute; 8–15 cm long; 1–2 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; elliptic; 7–15 cm long; 2–5 cm wide.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels filiform; flexuous.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; laterally compressed; 2.5–3.8 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume elliptic; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 5 -veined. Lower glume apex obtuse, or acute. Upper glume elliptic; 0.9 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex obtuse, or acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 2.5–3.8 mm long; membranous; without keel; 3 -veined. Lemma midvein pubescent; hairy below. Lemma margins ciliate. Lemma apex emarginate, or obtuse; muticous, or mucronate. Palea 1 length of lemma; 2 -veined. Palea keels pubescent. Palea surface pubescent; hairy on back.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; ellipsoid. Embryo projecting below grain.

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

NOTES Eragrostideae. Gould.

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