Sandgrass

Description

Triplasis , is a genus of herbaceous plants belonging to the family of the Poaceae. Sandgrass is a common name for plants in this genus. It is native to the southwest of the United States . It comprises 23 species described and of these, only 2 accepted. They are annual or perennial plants, usually cespitose or rarely rhizomatous. Caulinar leaves; the ligule is a row of trichomes; linear, flattened sheets. Inflorescences small, terminal and axillary panicles; cleistogenes also hidden within slightly inflated lower leaf sheaths. Spikelets linear, laterally compressed, pedicellate, with several bisexual florets; disarticulation above the glumes and between the florets; subequal glumes, 1-nerves, 2-fides; Rhachilla internodes long; slogans 2-lobed, carinated, 3-nerves, the central vein projecting as an arc, sericeous, the sericeous lateral veins, parallel to the central vein; Palea arched outward, the keels strongly viloso-ciliate in the upper 1/2; lodicles 2; stamens 3; styles 2. Fruit a caryopsis ; 1/2 embryo the length of the caryopsis; elliptical thread, 1/4 the length of the caryopsis.