Zeugites latifolius

HABIT Perennial. Culms erect; 100–200 cm long. Culm-nodes glabrous. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blade base broadly rounded; with a brief petiole-like connection to sheath; petiole 0.1–0.2 cm long; petiole pubescent. Leaf-blades elliptic; 15–20 cm long; 40–60 mm wide. Leaf-blade venation with distinct cross veins. Leaf-blade apex acuminate; filiform.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle. Peduncle glabrous.

Panicle open; ovate; dense; 13–20 cm long. Primary panicle branches ascending.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels filiform.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 12–19 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes dissimilar; with lower wider than upper; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume obovate; 4 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 7 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins with cross-veins. Lower glume apex erose; truncate. Upper glume obovate; 4 mm long; 0.7–0.8 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 7 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins with cross-veins. Upper glume apex erose; acute.

FLORETS Fertile florets female. Fertile lemma ovate; gibbous; 5 mm long; cartilaginous; keeled; 9–11 -veined. Lemma lateral veins with cross-veins. Lemma apex acute. Apical sterile florets 7–10 in number; male; with internodes 1 mm long between them; elliptic; 4 mm long. Apical sterile lemmas acute.

FLOWER Anthers 3.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION North America: Mexico.

NOTES Centotheceae. WDC 1994.

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