Leptocoryphium villaregalis

HABIT Perennial; culms solitary. Rhizomes elongated; scaly. Butt sheaths withering. Culms erect; 60–100 cm long. Leaf-sheaths outer margin hairy. Ligule a ciliolate membrane; 0.5 mm long. Leaf-blades 10–30 cm long; 6–10 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous, or pilose. Leaf-blade margins scaberulous; tuberculate-ciliate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; 20–30 cm long; 20–30 cm wide. Primary panicle branches 5–10 in number; ascending; 6–13 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels clavate; flexuous; 1–8 mm long; glabrous.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; dorsally compressed; acute; 3–4 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes one the lower absent or obscure, or two; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume linear; 0.5–0.7 mm long; 0.15 length of upper glume; hyaline. Upper glume lanceolate; 3–4 mm long; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 3(–5) -veined. Upper glume surface pilose; hairy between veins. Upper glume hairs 1 mm long. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; lanceolate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 3(–5) -veined; pilose; hairy between veins; bearing hairs 1 mm long; acute. Fertile lemma ovate; dorsally compressed; 3–4 mm long; cartilaginous; much thinner above; much thinner on margins; dark brown; without keel. Lemma lateral veins obscure. Lemma margins flat; ciliolate. Lemma apex acute. Palea gaping; 1 length of lemma; cartilaginous.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 2–2.5 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION North America: Mexico.

NOTES Paniceae. Fl Nov Gal 1997.

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