Briza brachychaete

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Basal innovations extravaginal. Culms erect; 30–70 cm long; 2 -noded. Culm-nodes glabrous. Leaf-sheaths pubescent. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1 mm long. Leaf-blades flat; 20–30 cm long; 3–6 mm wide. Leaf-blade midrib keeled beneath. Leaf-blade surface ungrooved; glabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; lanceolate, or elliptic; 10–30 cm long. Primary panicle branches 3–10 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels 0.2–2 mm long; glabrous.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2–3 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets orbicular; laterally compressed; 2–2.5 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes 0.1 mm long.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 2–2.3 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Lower glume primary vein ciliolate. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume elliptic; 2–2.3 mm long; 1.1–1.2 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Upper glume primary vein ciliolate. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic; 1.7–2 mm long; membranous; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma surface scabrous. Lemma apex awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn 1–2 mm long overall. Palea elliptic; 1 length of lemma; membranous; 2 -veined. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; lanceolate; 0.4 mm long; membranous; acute. Anthers 1; 0.6–0.7 mm long. Ovary glabrous.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; trigonous; 0.8–1 mm long. Hilum punctiform.

DISTRIBUTION South America: Brazil.

NOTES Poeae. Mathei 1994.

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