GrassBase - The Online World Grass Flora

Descriptions

W.D. Clayton, M. Vorontsova, K.T. Harman & H. Williamson

© Copyright The Board of Trustees, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Briza subaristata

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Basal innovations extravaginal. Culms erect; 30–60 cm long; 2 -noded. Culm-nodes glabrous. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.5–3 mm long. Leaf-blades flat, or involute; 6–25 cm long; 1.5–4 mm wide. Leaf-blade midrib scarcely raised beneath. Leaf-blade surface ribbed; glabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open, or contracted; lanceolate, or elliptic; 2.5–15 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels 2–7 mm long; pubescent.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 6–11 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets orbicular; laterally compressed; 3.5–5.5 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes 0.1–0.4 mm long.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume orbicular; 1.5–3.1 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 3–7 -veined. Lower glume surface puberulous. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume orbicular; 1.5–3.3 mm long; 0.66–0.75 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Upper glume surface puberulous. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblate; auriculate at base; 1.8–5 mm long; 1.8–5 mm wide; coriaceous; much thinner on margins; mid-green; keeled; winged on margins; 5 -veined. Lemma apex dentate; 2 -fid; muticous, or awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn from a sinus; 0.5–1 mm long overall. Palea orbicular; 1–2.5 mm long; coriaceous; 2 -veined. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; cuneate; 0.3–0.6 mm long; membranous; truncate. Anthers 1; 0.8–1.1 mm long. Ovary glabrous.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; orbicular; 1–1.5 mm long. Hilum punctiform.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: south. Australasia: Australia. North America: Mexico. South America: Mesoamericana, western South America, Brazil, and southern South America.

NOTES Poeae. Mathei 1994.

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