Rheochloa

HABIT Perennial. Culms geniculately ascending, or decumbent; 60–75 cm long; rooting from lower nodes. Culm-internodes terete. Lateral branches lacking. Ligule a ciliolate membrane. Leaf-blades lanceolate, or ovate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes digitate; unilateral. Rhachis angular. Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis.

Spikelets appressed; solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels oblong.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets laterally compressed; 5.4–5.6 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes definite.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; exceeding apex of florets; firmer than fertile lemma. Lower glume elliptic; 1 length of upper glume; coriaceous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume surface without pits. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume elliptic; 1.8–2.3 length of adjacent fertile lemma; coriaceous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; hyaline; wingless; 3 -veined. Lemma surface scaberulous; unwrinkled; without grooves. Lemma apex obtuse; pubescent. Palea 2 -veined. Apical sterile florets 1 in number; rudimentary.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; fleshy; truncate. Anthers 3.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; fusiform; isodiametric; trigonous; apex bicornate. Embryo 0.33 length of caryopsis. Hilum punctiform.

DISTRIBUTION South America.

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