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.

Polypogon chilensis

HABIT Annual. Culms 60–120 cm long. Leaf-sheaths smooth. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 4–10 mm long; scaberulous on abaxial surface; lacerate. Leaf-blades 15–35 cm long; 5–9 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scabrous; rough adaxially, or on both sides. Leaf-blade margins scabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle contracted; linear, or lanceolate; interrupted; 15–30 cm long; 1.5–3 cm wide. Primary panicle branches bearing spikelets almost to the base. Panicle axis scabrous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels filiform; 2–4 mm long; scabrous.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets cuneate; laterally compressed; 2.5–3 mm long; falling entire; deciduous with the pedicel. Floret callus glabrous.

GLUMES Glumes similar; exceeding apex of florets; firmer than fertile lemma; gaping. Lower glume lanceolate; 2.5–3 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume primary vein pectinately ciliate. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume surface asperulous. Lower glume hairs 0.2–0.5 mm long. Lower glume apex acute; muticous. Upper glume lanceolate; 2.5–3 mm long; 1.5 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume primary vein pectinately ciliate. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume surface asperulous. Upper glume hairs 0.2–0.5 mm long. Upper glume apex acute; muticous.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 1.5 mm long; membranous; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma apex dentate; 4 -fid; truncate; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn subapical; 0.5–1 mm long overall; deciduous. Palea 0.4–0.5 length of lemma; hyaline; 0 -veined.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; 0.4 mm long; membranous. Anthers 3; 0.5–0.6 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; fusiform; 1.3 mm long. Embryo 0.25–0.33 length of caryopsis. Endosperm soft.

DISTRIBUTION Australasia: Australia. South America: Brazil and southern South America.

NOTES Aveneae. Fl Pat.

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