Olyra

HABIT Perennial. Rhizomes absent (12), or short (12), or elongated (1). Culms erect (16/23), or geniculately ascending (9/23), or scandent (5/23); robust (1/1); 25–152.1–500 cm long; woody; without nodal roots (2/2), or rooting from lower nodes (1/2). Culm-nodes constricted (2/13), or swollen (11/13). Lateral branches lacking (1/5), or sparse (4/5). Leaf-sheath auricles absent (15), or erect (9). Ligule an eciliate membrane (8), or a ciliolate membrane (12), or a ciliate membrane (5). Leaf-blade base with a brief petiole-like connection to sheath. Leaf-blades lanceolate (20), or oblong (6), or ovate (14); stiff (1), or firm (23). Leaf-blade venation without cross veins (20), or with distinct cross veins (4).

INFLORESCENCE Monoecious; with male and female spikelets in the same inflorescence. Synflorescence on the same culm as leaves (22), or on a separate leafless culm (2). Inflorescence a panicle; terminal (7), or terminal and axillary (19); not deciduous as a whole (23), or deciduous as a whole (1).

Panicle open (18), or contracted (5), or spiciform (1). Primary panicle branches not whorled (8), or whorled at lower nodes (13), or whorled at most nodes (4). Panicle axis bearing persistent branches (23), or deciduous branches (1).

Sexes segregated; on unisexual branches (10), or bisexual branches (20); with male conjugate (1), or below (23). Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Male spikelets sessile and pedicelled (2), or pedicelled (22); 1 in a cluster (1/12), or 2 in a cluster (11/12), or 3 in a cluster (1/12), or 4 in a cluster (2/12). Pedicels linear (3), or columnar (2), or clavate (14), or cuneate (5); tip widened (5/5).

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate (18), or elliptic (1), or ovate (5); dorsally compressed; 5–19.8–50 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes brief up to lowest fertile floret (18), or elongated below proximal fertile floret (6). Floret callus brief (23), or evident (1).

GLUMES Glumes persistent (22), or deciduous (2); exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate (4), or elliptic (11), or ovate (9); 1–1.235–2.5 length of upper glume; membranous (3), or herbaceous (21); without keels; 5–8–15 -veined. Lower glume surface smooth (13), or asperulous (6), or scabrous (8); without pits; glabrous (20), or puberulous (3), or pubescent (3), or pilose (3), or hispid (2). Lower glume apex acuminate (10), or attenuate (6), or setaceously attenuate (1), or caudate (8); muticous (9), or awned (17). Upper glume lanceolate (4), or elliptic (10), or ovate (10); 1.1–1.804–5 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous (3), or herbaceous (21); without keels; 5 -veined (9), or 6 -veined (7), or 7 -veined (19), or 8 -veined (11), or 9 -veined (13), or 10 -veined (4), or 11 -veined (5), or 12–13 -veined (1). Upper glume primary vein eciliate, or ciliolate (1). Upper glume lateral veins without cross-veins (1/22), or with cross-veins (22/22). Upper glume surface smooth (13), or asperulous (7), or scabrous (7); glabrous (20), or puberulous (3), or pubescent (1), or pilose (3), or hispid (2). Upper glume apex acute (1), or acuminate (15), or attenuate (5), or setaceously attenuate (1), or caudate (4); muticous (19), or awned (8); 1 -awned (7/7).

FLORETS Fertile florets female. Fertile lemma lanceolate (8), or elliptic (11), or oblong (1), or ovate (4), or obovate (1); dorsally compressed; not gibbous (23), or gibbous (1); indurate; without keel; wingless; 3 -veined (1/16), or 5 -veined (11/16), or 6 -veined (2/16), or 7 -veined (5/16), or 8 -veined (1/16), or 11 -veined (1/16). Lemma lateral veins obscure (3/3). Lemma surface smooth (15), or scabrous (1), or pitted (8); unwrinkled; without grooves (23), or with 2 longitudinal grooves (1); glabrous (15), or puberulous (1), or pubescent (4), or pilose (4). Lemma margins involute; eciliate (23), or ciliate (1). Lemma apex obtuse (3), or acute (16), or acuminate (5); without ornament (23), or pubescent (1). Palea not rolled (21), or involute (3); 1 length of lemma; indurate; 2 -veined (5/7), or 4 -veined (2/7); without keels. Palea surface glabrous (23), or pubescent (1).

FLOWER Lodicules 3 (23/23); membranous (3/3). Anthers 3. Stigmas 2 (23/23).

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp (15/15); fusiform (6/15), or ellipsoid (5/15), or oblong (1/15), or ovoid (2/15), or obovoid (1/15); flattened (1/1). Embryo 0.11–0.1733–0.2 length of caryopsis. Hilum linear (12/12); 0.8–0.9833–1 length of caryopsis.

MALE Male spikelets distinct from female; lanceolate (22/23), or elliptic (1/23). Male spikelet glumes absent. Male spikelet lemma muticous (11/23), or awned (12/23).

DISTRIBUTION Africa (1), or North America (2), or South America.

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