Maclurolyra

HABIT Perennial. Rhizomes short. Culms geniculately ascending; 20–48 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blade base with a brief petiole-like connection to sheath. Leaf-blades oblong.

INFLORESCENCE Monoecious; with male and female spikelets in the same inflorescence. Inflorescence composed of racemes; embraced at base by subtending leaf.

Racemes single. Rhachis angular.

Sexes mixed. Spikelets in pairs. Fertile spikelets pedicelled; 1 in the cluster. Male spikelets pedicelled; 1 in a cluster. Pedicels filiform, or cuneate.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; dorsally compressed; 9.5–11.5 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 1 length of upper glume; coriaceous; without keels; 5–6 -veined. Lower glume surface without pits. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; coriaceous; without keels; 5–7 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins with cross-veins. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile florets female. Fertile lemma lanceolate; indurate; without keel; wingless; 5–8 -veined. Lemma surface unwrinkled; without grooves; pilose. Lemma margins convolute; covering most of palea. Lemma apex acuminate. Palea tightly convolute around flower; 0.9 length of lemma; indurate; 2–4 -veined; without keels. Palea surface pilose.

FLOWER Lodicules 3. Anthers 3. Stigmas 2; papillose.

MALE Male spikelets distinct from female; lanceolate. Male spikelet glumes absent. Male spikelet lemma muticous.

DISTRIBUTION South America.

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