Achlaena
piptostachya Griseb. Cat. Pl. Cub. 229 (1866).
Accepted by: R.J.Soreng et al., Catalogue of New World
Grasses (2000–2003),
W.D.Clayton & K.Harman,
GrassBase (2008) (as Arthropogon), U. Quattrocchi,
CRC World Dictionary of Grasses (2006).
TYPE from Cuba. T:<Type of Basionym>: fide TROPICOS and Kew Synonomy Database: IT: C. Wright
3487, Cuba
(NY-71022, US-927103, US-75310 (fragm.)).
Recent Synonyms: Arthropogon piptostachyus (Griseb.) Pilger, Rev.
Mus. Paulista 13: 1250 (1922).
Illustrations
(Books): A.S.Hitchcock, Manual of the Grasses of the West
Indies (1936) (158, Fig.
100).
Derivation (Clifford & Bostock 2007): Gk. pipto, fall down; stachys, ear of corn. Spikelets deciduous.
Habit, Vegetative
Morphology. Perennial,
caespitose. Butt sheaths thickened and forming a bulb. Culms
30–75 cm long.
Culm-nodes glabrous. Leaves mostly basal. Ligule a ciliolate membrane, 0.5–1 mm
long.
Leafblades linear or lanceolate, 10–30 cm long, 2–6 mm wide. Leaf-blade
surface glabrous.
Inflorescence. Inflorescence a panicle. Panicle open, ovate, 7–10
cm long, 4–7 cm wide, contracted about
primary branches.
Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels present, filiform.
Fertile Spikelets. Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets, 1
fertile florets, without rhachilla extension.
Spikelets of 1
fertile floret with or without additional sterile florets. Spikelets
two-flowered - the lower floret
male or barren,
the upper fertile. Spikelets lanceolate, laterally compressed, 6–7 mm long,
falling entire.
Spikelet callus
linear, 2 mm long, pilose. Spikelet callus hairs 0.33 length of spikelet.
Glumes. Glumes dissimilar, reaching apex of florets,
firmer than fertile lemma. Lower glume subulate, 10–
35 mm long. Upper
glume oblong, 1 length of spikelet, coriaceous, without keels, 5–7 -veined.
Upper glume
surface scabrous.
Upper glume awned, 1 -awned, awn 10–35 mm long.
Florets. Basal sterile florets 1, barren, without
significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to
upper glume,
oblong, 1 length of spikelet, coriaceous, 5–7 -veined, scabrous, rough above,
obtuse. Fertile
lemma linear,
membranous, without keel, 3 -veined, 0–3 -veined. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea
hyaline, without
keels.
Flower and Fruit. Lodicules 2, cuneate, fleshy. Anthers 2. Stigmas
2. Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.
Distribution
(TDWG). Continent. South America.
Region. Caribbean. Country/Province/State. Cuba,
Jamaica.
Classification. Subfamily Panicoideae. Tribe: Paniceae.
Image of Type US.