Piptochaetium avenacioides

Illustrator: Cindy Roché

Copyright: Utah State University

Culms 70-130 cm, mostly glabrous, sometimes pubescent below the nodes; nodes yellowish, glabrous. Sheaths glabrous; ligules blunt to acute, of basal leaves 0.4-0.7 mm, of upper leaves to 3 mm; blades 15-30 cm long, 0.8-1.5 mm wide, usually involute and 0.5 mm in diameter, 3-veined, abaxial surfaces usually glabrous and smooth, sometimes scabrous, adaxial surfaces usually scabrous over the veins, sometimes smooth, sometimes hairy. Panicles 10-31 cm, open, with 10-50 spikelets; pedicels 15-20 mm, scabrous. Glumes 15-22 mm, (3)5-veined; florets 13.5-22 mm long, 1-2 mm thick, terete; calluses 3.5-8 mm, sharp, strigose, hairs golden brown at maturity; lemmas glabrous, tan to brown at maturity, mostly smooth, sharply tuberculate distally, contracted below the crown; crowns 0.6-0.7 mm wide, hairy, hairs 0.2-0.6 mm; awns 62-120 mm, persistent, twice-geniculate; paleas 9-12 mm; lodicules 2; anthers 4-7 mm. 2n = unknown.

Distribution

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Fla.

Discussion

Piptochaetium avenacioides grows in dry woods, generally on sandy ridges. It is endemic to Florida, growing primarily in the central peninsula. Morph-ologically, it is very similar to P. avenaceum, differing only in its larger size and more restricted distribution.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.