Calderonella

HABIT Perennial. Rhizomes short. Culms erect; 30–60 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blade base with a false petiole. Leaf-blades lanceolate. Leaf-blade venation with distinct cross veins.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes single; paucilateral; bearing few fertile spikelets; bearing 6–7 fertile spikelets on each. Rhachis subterete. Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis; lax.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels oblong.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets lanceolate, or cuneate; laterally compressed; gibbous; 6.64–9.6 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes shorter than spikelet. Lower glume elliptic; 1.4 length of upper glume; herbaceous; without keels; 15–16 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins ribbed. Lower glume surface without pits; pilose. Lower glume apex obtuse. Upper glume ovate; 1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; herbaceous; without keels; 10–11 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins ribbed; with cross-veins. Upper glume surface pilose. Upper glume apex obtuse.

FLORETS Fertile florets female. Fertile lemma oblate; gibbous; herbaceous; without keel; wingless; 15–19 -veined. Lemma lateral veins ribbed. Lemma surface unwrinkled; without grooves; pilose; hairy between veins. Lemma margins connate below. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea 2 -veined. Palea keels winged. Apical sterile florets 2–4 in number; male; lanceolate.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; fleshy. Anthers 3.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; oblong; laterally compressed. Hilum punctiform.

DISTRIBUTION South America.

Please cite this publication as detailed in How to Cite Version: 3rd February 2016.