Deyeuxia guatemalensis

HABIT Perennial. Culms geniculately ascending; 30–60 cm long. Leaf-sheaths smooth, or scaberulous; glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 3–5 mm long. Leaf-blades involute; 1–3 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scabrous; rough on both sides.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle contracted, or spiciform; ovate; continuous, or interrupted; 7–12 cm long. Primary panicle branches appressed, or ascending; 1–3 cm long; bearing spikelets almost to the base.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels filiform.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; with a barren rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; laterally compressed; 4–5 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus bearded. Floret callus hairs 0.5 length of lemma.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; firmer than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume surface asperulous. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 4–5 mm long; 1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume surface scabrous. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; 4 mm long; membranous; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma surface scaberulous. Lemma apex dentate; 4 -fid; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn dorsal; arising 0.25 way up back of lemma; geniculate; 6–9 mm long overall; clearly exserted from spikelet; with twisted column. Rhachilla extension 1 mm long; pilose; with 2 mm long hairs.

FLOWER Lodicules 2. Anthers 3. Stigmas 2.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Hilum punctiform. Disseminule comprising a floret.

DISTRIBUTION North America: Mexico. South America: Mesoamericana.

NOTES Aveneae. N Amer Fl 1994.

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