Altoparadisium scabrum

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Butt sheaths thickened and forming a bulb. Culms 30–70 cm long. Culm-nodes glabrous. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1 mm long. Leaf-blades linear, or lanceolate; flat, or conduplicate; 15–30 cm long; 10 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous, or pilose. Leaf-blade apex attenuate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; lanceolate; 15–18 cm long; 1 cm wide.

Spikelets solitary, or in pairs. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels filiform.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; laterally compressed; 6 mm long; 1 mm wide; falling entire. Spikelet callus pubescent. Spikelet callus hairs 1 mm long; 0.15 length of spikelet.

GLUMES Glumes dissimilar; reaching apex of florets; firmer than fertile lemma. Lower glume subulate; 10–12 mm long. Upper glume oblong; 1 length of spikelet; coriaceous; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume surface scabrous. Upper glume awned; 1 -awned. Upper glume awn 13–15 mm long.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; oblong; 1 length of spikelet; coriaceous; 3 -veined; scabrous; obtuse. Fertile lemma linear; 3 mm long; membranous; without keel. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea absent or minute.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; cuneate; fleshy. Anthers 3. Stigmas 2.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION South America: western South America and Brazil.

NOTES Paniceae. Filgueiras.

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