Merostachys kleinii (Merostachys kleinii)
Description
HABIT Perennial;caespitose.Rhizomes short;pachymorph.Culms 20–35 mm diam.;woody.Culm-internodes terete;hollow;grey;antrorsely scabrous.Lateral branches dendroid.Branch complement many (50–120);flabellate.Leaves 4–5 per branch.Leaf-sheaths tight;glabrous on surface;outer margin glabrous.Leaf-sheath oral hairs setose;deciduous.Ligule a ciliolate membrane;0.2 mm long.Leaf-blade base with a brief petiole-like connection to sheath;petiole 0.25 cm long.Leaf-blades lanceolate;3–9 cm long;7–15 mm wide.Leaf-blade surface scaberulous;rough adaxially.Leaf-blade apex attenuate.INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.Racemes 1;single;unilateral;3–6 cm long;20 mm wide;bearing 28–32 fertile spikelets on each.Rhachis angular;pilose on surface;terminating in a sterile spikelet.Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis;crowded;2 -rowed.Spikelets solitary.Fertile spikelets pedicelled.Pedicels ciliate.STERILE SPIKELETS Apical sterile spikelets rudimentary.FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets;with a barren rhachilla extension.Spikelets ovate;laterally compressed;16 mm long;breaking up at maturity;disarticulating below each fertile floret.GLUMES Glumes persistent;reaching apex of florets.Lower glume lanceolate;4 mm long;chartaceous;without keels;1 -veined.Lower glume lateral veins absent.Lower glume surface puberulous.Lower glume margins ciliate.Lower glume apex acute.Upper glume elliptic;12–14 mm long;membranous;15 -veined.Upper glume lateral veins with cross-veins.Upper glume surface puberulous.Upper glume apex acute.FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate;10 mm long;6 mm wide;chartaceous;without keel;16–17 -veined.Lemma lateral veins with cross-veins.Lemma surface puberulous.Lemma apex acute.Palea lanceolate;11–12 mm long;12–14 -veined.Palea keels ciliate.Palea surface glabrous.Rhachilla extension pubescent.FLOWER Lodicules 3.Anthers 3.Stigmas 2.FRUIT Caryopsis with free brittle pericarp;ovoid;6–7 mm long;yellow.DISTRIBUTION South America: Brazil.
Taxonomic tree
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Domain: Eukarya
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Kingdom: Plantae
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Phylum:
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Class: Liliopsida
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Order: Poales
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Family: Poaceae
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Genus: Merostachys
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