Scutachne

HABIT Perennial. Culms erect; 25–43.75–70 cm long; firm (1), or wiry (1). Ligule a ciliolate membrane (1), or a fringe of hairs (1). Leaf-blades coriaceous; stiff. Leaf-blade margins cartilaginous (1/1). Leaf-blade apex muticous (1), or pungent (1).

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open (1), or contracted (1).

Spikelets solitary, or in pairs. Fertile spikelets pedicelled; 1–2 in the cluster. Pedicels filiform (1/1), or oblong (1/1).

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; dorsally compressed; 4–6–8 mm long; falling entire. Spikelet callus square; incorporating lowest rhachilla internode with adnate lower glume; base obtuse. Rhachilla internodes elongated between glumes.

GLUMES Glumes reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume oblong (1), or ovate (1); membranous (1), or chartaceous (1); without keels; 3 -veined (1), or 5 -veined (1). Lower glume surface without pits; glabrous (1), or pubescent. Lower glume apex acute, or acuminate (1). Upper glume ovate; chartaceous (1), or coriaceous (1); without keels; 5 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins with cross-veins (1/1). Upper glume surface pubescent. Upper glume apex acute (1), or acuminate.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets male (1), or barren (1); with palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret ovate; chartaceous (1), or coriaceous (1); 5 -veined; acute (1), or acuminate. Fertile lemma elliptic (1), or ovate (1); coriaceous (1), or indurate (1); without keel; wingless; 5 -veined (1/1). Lemma surface smooth (1), or striate (1); unwrinkled; without grooves. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex rostrate; pubescent. Palea 1 length of lemma; coriaceous (1), or indurate (1); 2 -veined.

DISTRIBUTION South America.

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