Bigelow'S Desertgrass (Blepharidachne bigelovii)

Description

Perennial; caespitose. Culms 6-20 cm long. Lateral branches ample. Leaf-sheaths longer than adjacent culm internode. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades curled; deciduous at the ligule; involute; 1-2 cm long; 1-2 mm wide; coriaceous; stiff. Leaf-blade surface ribbed; pubescent. Leaf-blade margins cartilaginous. Leaf-blade apex acute; hardened. Inflorescence a panicle; comprising 5-10 fertile spikelets; shorter than basal leaves; embraced at base by subtending leaf.Panicle capitate; oblong; 1-3 cm long; bearing few spikelets. Panicle branches pubescent.Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.Spikelets comprising 2 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets cuneate; laterally compressed; 5-7 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus pilose.Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume elliptic; 0.9 length of upper glume; hyaline; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume elliptic; 4.5-6 mm long; 0.8 length of adjacent fertile lemma; hyaline; without keels; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acute.Basal sterile florets similar; barren; with palea; attached to and deciduous with the fertile. Lemma of lower sterile floret oblong; 5-7 mm long; 1 length of fertile lemma; chartaceous; 3 -veined; pilose; hairy below; ciliate on margins; lobed; 2 -fid; awned (1 awn). Awn of lower sterile floret 2-3 mm long. Fertile lemma oblong; 5-7 mm long; membranous; without keel; 3 -veined. Lemma surface pilose; hairy below. Lemma margins ciliate. Lemma apex lobed; 2 -fid; incised 0.2 of lemma length; awned; 3 -awned. Principal lemma awn from a sinus; 4-5 mm long overall; limb ciliate. Lateral lemma awns arising on outer edge of lobes; 3-4 mm long; shorter than principal; ciliate. Palea 1.1 length of lemma; 2 -veined. Palea keels approximate; scabrous. Apical sterile florets 1 in number; male; rudimentary. Apical sterile lemmas awned; 3 -awned. Apical sterile lemma awns 4-5 mm long; ciliate.Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Embryo projecting below grain.