Oplismenus hirtellus

(L.) P. Beauv.
Common names: Bristle basketgrass
Synonyms: Oplismenus hirtellus subsp. setarius Oplismenus hirtellus subsp. fasciculatus
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 25. Treatment on page 390.

Plants perennial. Culms to 90 cm, mostly decumbent and rooting at the nodes, distal 15-35 cm ascending when flowering; nodes usually pubescent; internodes usually pubescent along 1 side (sometimes glabrous). Sheaths conspicuously ciliate on the margins; ligules 0.4-1.6(2.3) mm, ciliate; blades (0.6)1.3-11.5 cm long, 2-20 mm wide, glabrous, scabrous, or pubescent, margin(s) usually undu-lating. Panicles (1.5)2.5-16.5 cm, with 2-10 primary branches; branches 0.1-2.5 cm. Spikelets 2.2-3.5(4.5) mm; calluses shortly pubescent at the base awns usually purplish. Lower glumes 1.5-3 mm, scabridulous and/or pubescent, 3-5-veined, awns (1.6)3.2-14.5 mm; upper glumes 1.5-2.5 mm, sparsely pubescent, 5-7-veined, awns 0.8-6(10) mm; lower florets usually sterile, occasionally staminate; lower lemmas 2.2-3.1 mm, sparsely pubescent above, (5)7-9-veined, awns 0.1-1.2 mm; lower paleas absent or to 2.3 mm, hyaline; upper lemmas (2.1)2.3-3 mm, glabrous, weakly cartilaginous, white to cream-colored; anthers 3, 1.3-1.7 mm. Caryopses 1.7-1.8 mm long, 0.5-0.9 mm wide, glabrous. 2n = 36, (54), 72, (90).

Distribution

Md., Okla., Miss., Ala., N.C., La., Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, Va., S.C., Ark., Fla., Ga., Pacific Islands (Hawaii), Mo., Tex.

Discussion

Oplismenus hirtellus grows at scattered locations in the southeastern United States, extending south in subtropical and tropical habitats to Argentina. Scholz (1981) recognized 11 subspecies and two forms within the species, but they overlap, both morphologically and geographically. The key below is included for convenience. It includes the three subspecies attributed to the Flora region. In addition, a variegated form culti

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.

Key

1 Sheaths and culms noticeably pilose, the hairs 1-3 mm long; lemmas 7-veined Oplismenus hirtellus subsp. undulatifolius
1 Sheaths and culms glabrous or with a few, scattered hairs less than 1 mm long; lemmas (7)9-11-veined. > 2
2 Spikelets 2.2-2.7(3.3) mm long; lowest panicle branches 0.1-0.5 cm long Oplismenus hirtellus subsp. setarius
2 Spikelets 3-3.4(4.5) mm long; lowest panicle branches 0.5-0.7 cm long Oplismenus hirtellus subsp. fasciculatus
... more about "Oplismenus hirtellus"
J.K. Wipff +
(L.) P. Beauv. +
Bristle basketgrass +
Md. +, Okla. +, Miss. +, Ala. +, N.C. +, La. +, Puerto Rico +, Virgin Islands +, Va. +, S.C. +, Ark. +, Fla. +, Ga. +, Pacific Islands (Hawaii) +, Mo. +  and Tex. +
Oplismenus hirtellus subsp. setarius +  and Oplismenus hirtellus subsp. fasciculatus +
Oplismenus hirtellus +
Oplismenus +
species +