Poaceae
Phalaris

Phalaris platensis Henrard ex Wacht.

First published in H.Heukels, Geill. Schoolfl. Nederl., ed. 11: 843 (1934)
This species is accepted
The native range of this species is S. Brazil to NE. Agentina. It is an annual and grows primarily in the subtropical biome.

Descriptions

Morphology General Habit
Annual; caespitose. Culms 20-40 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades 5-10 cm long; 3-5 mm wide.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescence a panicle. Panicle spiciform; linear; continuous, or interrupted; 3-8 cm long. Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Spikelets
Spikelets comprising 2 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets obovate; laterally compressed; compressed strongly; 3.9-5.1 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.
Fertile
Spikelets comprising 2 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets obovate; laterally compressed; compressed strongly; 3.9-5.1 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts Glume
Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume elliptic; 3.9-5.1 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; chartaceous; 1-keeled; wingless, or winged on keel; winged narrowly; winged above; 3-5 -veined. Lower glume primary vein scabrous. Lower glume surface scabrous; rough on veins. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume elliptic; 3.9-5.1 mm long; 1.3-1.5 length of adjacent fertile lemma; chartaceous; 1-keeled; wingless, or winged on keel; winged near apex; 3 -veined. Upper glume primary vein scabrous. Upper glume surface scabrous; rough on veins. Upper glume apex acute.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Florets
Basal sterile florets similar; barren; without significant palea; attached to and deciduous with the fertile. Lemma of lower sterile floret linear; 0.8-1.8 mm long; 0.3-0.4 length of fertile lemma; glabrous. Fertile lemma elliptic; laterally compressed; 2.7-3.6 mm long; cartilaginous; shiny; keeled; 5 -veined. Lemma surface pubescent; hairy below. Lemma apex acuminate. Palea cartilaginous; 2 -veined; without keels. Palea surface pubescent; hairy on back.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
Lodicules 2; membranous. Anthers 3. Ovary glabrous.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; 1.7-1.9 mm long. Hilum linear.
Distribution
South America: Brazil and southern South America.
Reference
Aveneae. Anderson.
[GB]

Extinction risk predictions for the world's flowering plants to support their conservation (2024). Bachman, S.P., Brown, M.J.M., Leão, T.C.C., Lughadha, E.N., Walker, B.E. https://nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/nph.19592

Conservation
Predicted extinction risk: not threatened. Confidence: confident
[AERP]

Sources

  • Angiosperm Extinction Risk Predictions v1

    • Angiosperm Threat Predictions
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0

  • GrassBase - The Online World Grass Flora

    • Clayton, W.D., Vorontsova, M.S., Harman, K.T. and Williamson, H. (2006 onwards). GrassBase - The Online World Grass Flora.
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Kew Backbone Distributions

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2024. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2023 World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

  • Kew Names and Taxonomic Backbone

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2024. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2023 International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0