Torreyochloa erecta

HABIT Perennial. Rhizomes elongated. Culms geniculately ascending; 10–40 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades 5–12 cm long; 4–9 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; elliptic, or ovate; dense; 3–8 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 3–4 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 3–4.5 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 0.75 mm long; 0.75 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex obtuse. Upper glume ovate; 1 mm long; 0.3–0.4 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex obtuse.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 2.5–3 mm long; chartaceous; without keel; 7 -veined. Lemma lateral veins ribbed. Lemma surface scaberulous; rough on veins. Lemma apex erose; truncate, or obtuse. Palea 2 -veined. Palea keels scaberulous. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FRUIT Hilum punctiform.

DISTRIBUTION North America: northwest USA and southwest USA.

NOTES Poeae. Man US Gr.

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