Briza brizoides

HABIT Perennial. Culms erect; 20–70 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1–1.5 mm long. Leaf-blades flat, or convolute; 7–15 cm long; 0.5–2 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; effuse; 5–55 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels filiform.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 4–10 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong, or cuneate; laterally compressed; 7–11 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes obscured by lemmas. Floret callus pilose.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 4.5–5 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 4.5–5 mm long; 0.8–0.9 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 5 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblate; 5.2–5.7 mm long; chartaceous; much thinner above; keeled; lightly keeled; winged on margins; 5 -veined. Lemma apex dentate; 2 -fid; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn from a sinus; 2–3 mm long overall. Palea 0.9 length of lemma; 2 -veined. Palea keels ciliolate. Palea surface pubescent; hairy on back. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; 0.8–1 mm long. Anthers 3; 1.8 mm long. Ovary glabrous.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; ellipsoid; 1.5–2.3 mm long. Hilum punctiform.

DISTRIBUTION South America: Brazil and southern South America.

NOTES Poeae. Mattei.

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