TREATMENT FROM THE JEPSON MANUAL	previous taxon | next taxon Jepson Interchange (more information)
	©Copyright 1993 by the Regents of the University of California Print edition is available from the University of California Press

	The second edition of The Jepson Manual (2012) is available from the University of California Press
	See also the Jepson eFlora, which parallels the Second Edition

POACEAE

GRASS FAMILY

James P. Smith, Jr., except as specified

Annual to bamboo-like; roots generally fibrous
Stem generally round, hollow; nodes swollen, solid
Leaves alternate, 2-ranked, generally linear; sheath generally open; ligule membranous or hairy, at blade base
Inflorescence various (of generally many spikelets)
Spikelet: glumes generally 2; florets (lemma, palea, flower) 1–many; lemma generally membranous, sometimes glume-like; palea generally ± transparent, ± enclosed by lemma
Flower generally bisexual, minute; stamens generally 3; stigmas generally 2, generally plumose
Fruit: achene-like grain
Genera in family: 650–900 genera; ± 10,000 species: worldwide; greatest economic importance of any family (wheat, rice, maize, millet, sorghum, sugar cane, forage crops, ornamental, weeds; thatching, weaving, building materials). [Hitchcock 1951 Manual grasses US, USDA Misc Publ 200; Clayton & Renvoise 1986 Kew Bull Add Series 13] See Glossary p. 26 for illustrations of general family characteristics. Generally wind-pollinated.

PLEURAPHIS

J. Travis Columbus

Perennial, cespitose, rhizomed
Stem ascending to erect, solid; nodes generally hairy
Leaf: ligule membranous, ciliate-fringed; blade firm, flat to inrolled, sharply acute
Inflorescence spike-like, generally cylindric; spikelets in clusters ± equal, 3 per node; clusters wedge-shaped, overlapping, appressed to ascending, hairy-tufted at base, falling as 1 unit; axis wavy; glumes of cluster together involucre-like
Central spikelet subsessile, appressed to or nearest inflorescence axis; glumes equal, < floret, oblanceolate, keeled, ciliate, tip deeply 2-lobed, lobes lanceolate, awns 3–9, 1 from ± mid-keel, others terminal; florets generally 1–2, lower floret bisexual, upper floret (if present) bisexual or staminate; lemma lanceolate, 3-veined, generally ciliate, tip generally 2-lobed, generally 1-awned ± from sinus; palea ± = lemma
Lateral spikelets sessile; glumes < to ± = florets, ciliate, lower glume asymmetric with 1 awn from ± middle near margin, generally 2-lobed, lobes unequal; florets 1–4, generally staminate; lemma 3-veined, tip generally ciliate; palea ± = lemma
Species in genus: 3 species: w US, n Mex
Etymology: (Greek: side needle, from awn position on lower glume of lateral spikelets)
Reference: [Reeder & Reeder 1988 Madroño 35:6–9]

Native

P. jamesii Torr.

GALLETA

Plant 1.5–4(6.5) dm, unbranched above base
Stem ± 1 mm diam; internodes glabrous or puberulent; node hairs ± straight
Leaves generally basal; glabrous or scabrous, long-ciliate near ligule; ligule membrane 1–3 mm, generally appendaged; blade < 13(21) cm, 2–3 mm wide, upper surface sometimes with short, ± straight, hairs
Inflorescence 3–7 cm; spikelet clusters 6–9 mm
Central spikelet: glume margin hairs < 0.5 mm; lower lemma awn < 2.5 mm
Lateral spikelets: lower glume 1-awned; upper glume tip unlobed or 2-lobed, awn 0–0.4 mm, margin hairs < 0.5 mm; lemma tip unlobed or 2-lobed, awn 0–0.4 mm, margin hairs < 0.2 mm
Chromosomes: 2n=36,38,72
Ecology: Dry, sandy to rocky slopes, flats, scrub, woodland
Elevation: 1000–2500 m.
Bioregional distribution: East of Sierra Nevada, n&e Desert Mountains
Distribution outside California: to Wyoming, Texas
Flowering time: May–Jun
Synonyms: Hilaria j. (Torr.) Benth
Horticultural information: SUN, DRN: 1, 2, 3, 7, 8, 9, 10, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24 &IRR: 11, 12, 13; also STBL.