Cortaderia boliviensis

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms 30–150 cm long. Lateral branches lacking. Leaves mostly basal. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades persistent, or deciduous with part of sheath attached; flat, or involute; (25–)60–90 cm long; 2.5–6 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Gynodioecious ("male", in this context, indicating the bisexual state). Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle contracted; oblong; 10–25(–35) cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2–3(–4) fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets cuneate; laterally compressed; 10–12 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus evident; 1.3–1.5 mm long; bearded. Floret callus hairs 2 mm long.

GLUMES Glumes similar; shorter than spikelet; similar to fertile lemma in texture; gaping. Lower glume lanceolate; 7–11 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 1(–3) -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent, or obscure. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 7–11 mm long; 1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 1(–3) -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent, or obscure. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile florets female. Fertile lemma ovate; 7–10 mm long; membranous; without keel; 5–7 -veined. Lemma surface pilose; hairy at base. Lemma apex lobed; 2 -fid; with lobes 3–4 mm long; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn from a sinus; 8–10 mm long overall. Palea 5–6 mm long. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; cuneate; fleshy. Anthers 3. Staminodes present; 0.2–0.3 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

MALE Male inflorescence bisexual, similar to female.

DISTRIBUTION South America: western South America.

NOTES Arundineae. Gr Bolivia 1997.

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