Stenostachys deceptorix

Detailed description

Stout perennial, stoloniferous grass with somewhat flaccid, open or compact shoots of flat leaves, and a distinctly pendulous, narrow inflorescence. Leaf-sheath 50–100 mm, keel, frequently densely pubescent with short and long hairs or glabrous; becoming fibrous. Auricles 0.5–0.7 mm, scarcely clasping, occasionally bearing 1–2 long hairs. Ligule 0.3–0.5 mm, very faintly erose. Leaf-blade 100–300 × 1–2.5 mm, flat, thin, abundantly covered with fine prickle-teeth on ribs, occasionally with hairs 0.5 mm long between ribs of lower surfaces and sometimes near ligule; margin prickle-toothed. Culm stout 0.4–1.9 m, internodes glabrous, glossy; nodes more or less geniculate. Inflorescence slender, pendulous, 100–200 mm long, bearing 20–30 spikelets > internodes in length; rachis prolongation 2–6 mm. Spikelets up to 15 mm, of 1–3 florets, lustrous; 3.0–3.5 mm. Glumes 2, 5–10 mm long, equal, initially narrow canaliculate becoming awn-like, prickle-toothed, closely appressed to floret above, < spikelet. Lemma 8–10 mm long, smooth except for prickle-teeth below awn and near callus, sometimes pruinose, rarely bifid at apex; scabrid awn 5.0–6.5 mm. Palea 8–10 mm, greater than or equal to lemma; apex prolonged or retuse, ciliate; keels toothed. Callus short, surrounded by short stiff hairs; disarticulation flat. Rachilla 1.8–2.0 mm, bearing abundant stiff hairs. Lodicules 0.7–0.8 mm long. Anthers 3.0–3.5 mm long. Ovary 0.75–1.00 mm; stigma-styles to 2.5 mm. Seed 5.0–5.5 mm long. Flowers open or cleistogamous.