Cinna poiformis

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect; 90–150 cm long; 3–6 mm diam. Culm-nodes purple. Lateral branches lacking. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1.5–15 mm long; brown; lacerate. Leaf-blades 5–35 cm long; 5–15 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle. Peduncle 10–20 cm long; glabrous.

Panicle open; ovate; effuse; nodding; 15–45 cm long; with spikelets clustered towards branch tips. Primary panicle branches drooping; whorled at most nodes. Panicle branches capillary; flexuous; scaberulous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels scabrous.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; with a barren rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; laterally compressed; 2.5–3.2 mm long; falling entire. Spikelet callus glabrous. Rhachilla internodes elongated below proximal fertile floret. Rhachilla elongation 0.2 mm long.

GLUMES Glumes similar; reaching apex of florets. Lower glume lanceolate; 2.5–3.2 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; purple; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Lower glume primary vein scabrous. Lower glume surface scabrous; rough on veins. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 2.5–3.2 mm long; 1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; purple; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Upper glume primary vein scabrous. Upper glume surface scabrous; rough on veins. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 2.5–3.2 mm long; membranous; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma surface scaberulous; rough above. Lemma apex acute; muticous, or awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn subapical; 0.1–0.3 mm long overall; not or scarcely exserted from spikelet. Palea 0.9 length of lemma; 1 -veined; 1-keeled. Rhachilla extension 0.3 mm long.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 1 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Endosperm liquid.

DISTRIBUTION North America: Mexico. South America: Mesoamericana, northern South America, and western South America.

NOTES Aveneae. Pohl.

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