Phalaris peruviana

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Rhizomes short. Culms 100–150 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades 15–30 cm long; 5–10 mm wide. Leaf-blade margins scaberulous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle spiciform; oblong; 5–9 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets obovate; laterally compressed; compressed strongly; 7–8 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume elliptic; 7–8 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; chartaceous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume elliptic; 7–8 mm long; 1.5–1.7 length of adjacent fertile lemma; chartaceous; 1-keeled; winged on keel; winged above; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets dissimilar; barren; without significant palea; attached to and deciduous with the fertile. Lemma of lower sterile floret subulate; 0.5 mm long. Lemma of upper sterile floret subulate; 2 mm long. Fertile lemma elliptic; laterally compressed; 4–5 mm long; cartilaginous; shiny; keeled; 5 -veined. Lemma surface pubescent. Lemma apex acute. Palea cartilaginous; 2 -veined; without keels. Palea surface pubescent.

FLOWER Anthers 3. Ovary glabrous.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Hilum linear.

DISTRIBUTION South America: western South America.

NOTES Aveneae. Gr Peru 1997.

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