Steinchisma Rafinesque. Subfamily: Panicoideae. Tribe: Paspaleae. Subtribe: Otachyriinae. supertribe: Panicodae. clade: "PACMAD". Gaping Panic Grass.
A genus of about 6 species, perennial herbs, of s. North America, Central America, and South America. See discussion following Panicum regarding generic concepts. The large, thickened, pale sterile palea of this species is unique among panicoids of our region; it is one of several morphological characters that led to the segregation of Steinchisma as a genus, a finding now confirmed by DNA phylogeny. The enlargement of the sterile palea causes the spikelet to spread open, or "gape." Steinchisma has an “intermediate C3-C4” pathway.
Ref: Acosta et al. (2014); Freckmann & Lelong (2003b) In Flora of North America Editorial Committee (2003a); Zuloaga et al. (1998). Show full citations.
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© Bruce A. Sorrie