Pleuropogon hooverianus

(L.D. Benson) J.T. Howell
Common names: Hoover's semaphoregrass
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 24.
Revision as of 16:17, 18 September 2019 by FNA>Volume Importer

Plants perennial; not cespitose, rhizomatous. Culms 1-1.6 m, erect. Sheaths glabrous, retrorsely scabridulous; ligules 3-6.5 mm; blades 3-30 cm long, 4-10 mm wide, apices acute to acuminate, mucronate, flag leaves often with reduced spinose blades. Racemes 21-33 cm, with 7-10 spikelets; internodes 1.8-8 cm; pedicels 1.5-5 mm, erect or ascending, rarely reflexed. Spikelets 28-42 mm, erect or ascending, with 9-16 florets, usually all but the terminal floret bisexual. Lower glumes 3-5.6 mm; upper glumes 4.5-7.2 mm, 1-3-veined; rachilla internodes 2-3 mm long, about 0.4 mm thick, basal 1/2 developing into a glandular swelling; lemmas 8-9 mm, 7-veined, lateral veins strongly ribbed, apices toothed, usually rounded, rarely acute or erose, awned, awns 0.2-4 mm; paleal keels unawned, each with a 0.6-1.5 mm triangular appendage; anthers 4-4.8 mm. Caryopses 3.5-4 mm. 2n =16, 36.

Discussion

Pleuropogon hooverianus grows in wet and marshy areas, usually in shady locations. Several of the populations are around redwood groves. It is known only from Mendocino, Sonoma, and Marin counties in California. It is listed as rare by the state of California.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.