Pariana

HABIT Perennial. Rhizomes absent (22), or short (7), or elongated (1). Stolons absent, or present (1). Culms erect (25), or geniculately ascending (4), or arching (1); robust (1/3), or slender (2/3); 15–59.12–175.5 cm long; firm (29), or woody (1). Culm-internodes abbreviated and closely packed at the base (1/1); terete (1/1). Culm-nodes swollen (2/2); with distinct supra-nodal ridge (1/1). Lateral branches lacking (11/12), or sparse (1/12). Leaf-sheath auricles absent (26), or erect (5). Ligule an eciliate membrane (29), or a ciliolate membrane (1). Leaf-blade base with a brief petiole-like connection to sheath. Leaf-blades linear (2), or lanceolate (18), or elliptic (3), or oblong (10), or ovate (9). Leaf-blade venation without cross veins (29), or with distinct cross veins (1).

INFLORESCENCE Monoecious; with male and female spikelets in the same inflorescence. Synflorescence on the same culm as leaves (7), or on a specialized culm bearing a single leaf-blade (1), or on a separate leafless culm (22). Inflorescence composed of racemes; terminal (29), or terminal and axillary (1); subtended by an unspecialized leaf-sheath (29), or an inflated leaf-sheath (1).

Racemes single; erect (27), or drooping (3); linear (22), or oblong (8); multilateral; bearing few fertile spikelets (2), or many spikelets (28); bearing 5 fertile spikelets on each (1/4), or 6 fertile spikelets on each (2/4), or 7 fertile spikelets on each (3/4), or 8 fertile spikelets on each (2/4), or 9–12 fertile spikelets on each (1/4). Rhachis fragile at the nodes; flattened (1/8), or subterete (7/8); terminating in a spikelet (22), or sterile spikelet (8). Spikelet packing crowded (6), or contiguous (20), or lax (1), or distant (3). Rhachis internodes indefinite (6), or linear (24). Rhachis internode tip cupuliform (7/7).

Sexes mixed. Spikelets appressed (14/14); subtended by an involucre. Fertile spikelets sessile; 1 in the cluster. Male spikelets pedicelled; 5 in a cluster (29), or 6 in a cluster (1). Involucre composed of imperfect spikelets; with pedicels forming a cup (26), or with pedicels forming a long tube (4). Pedicels fused to each other; oblong (21), or cuneate (9); tip rectangular (29/29).

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate (9), or oblong (1), or ovate (20); laterally compressed (18), or dorsally compressed (12); 2.5–6.801–15 mm long; falling entire; deciduous with accessory branch structures.

GLUMES Glumes shorter than spikelet (2), or reaching apex of florets (8), or exceeding apex of florets (21); thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume subulate (1), or linear (1), or lanceolate (11), or oblong (4), or ovate (14); 1 length of upper glume; membranous (1), or chartaceous (29); without keels (13), or 1-keeled (17); 1 -veined (8/13), or 2 -veined (2/13), or 3 -veined (6/13). Lower glume lateral veins absent (6), or obscure (1), or distinct (24). Lower glume surface smooth (29), or asperulous (1); without pits; glabrous (22), or puberulous (2), or pubescent (7). Lower glume apex obtuse (3), or acute (22), or acuminate (5), or attenuate (1), or caudate (1). Upper glume subulate (1), or linear (1), or lanceolate (4), or oblong (4), or ovate (21); 1–1.176–1.5 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous (1), or chartaceous (29); without keels (7/24), or 1-keeled (17/24); 1 -veined (7/12), or 2 -veined (1/12), or 3 -veined (6/12). Upper glume lateral veins with cross-veins (1/1). Upper glume surface smooth (29), or asperulous (1); glabrous (23), or puberulous (2), or pubescent (6). Upper glume apex obtuse (3), or acute (22), or acuminate (5), or attenuate (1), or caudate (1).

FLORETS Fertile florets female. Fertile lemma lanceolate (2), or oblong (4), or ovate (25); coriaceous; without keel; wingless; 3 -veined (10/10). Lemma surface smooth (27), or scaberulous (3); unwrinkled; without grooves; glabrous (27), or puberulous (1), or pubescent (2). Lemma apex obtuse (2/29), or acute (27/29); without ornament (29), or pubescent (1). Palea 1–1.006–1.2 length of lemma; membranous (1), or coriaceous (29); 2 -veined (7/8), or 4 -veined (1/8); without keels (27), or 2-keeled (3).

FLOWER Lodicules 3 (28/28); membranous (1/1); glabrous (26/28), or ciliate (2/28). Anthers 2–14–30. Stigmas 2 (27/27). Ovary glabrous (4/4).

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp (1/1); ovoid (1/1). Hilum linear (1/1).

MALE Male spikelets distinct from female; lanceolate (1), or elliptic (1), or oblong (4), or ovate (26). Male spikelet glumes 2; muticous (3/5), or awned (2/5). Male spikelet lemma muticous (3/3).

DISTRIBUTION South America.

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