Cortaderia modesta

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Rhizomes short. Culms 100–250 cm long; 1.5–2 mm diam. Culm-nodes brown; glabrous. Lateral branches lacking. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Ligule a fringe of hairs; 0.5–0.8 mm long. Leaf-blades 20–80 cm long; 6–12 mm wide. Leaf-blade midrib keeled beneath. Leaf-blade surface scabrous; rough on both sides. Leaf-blade margins scabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Gynodioecious ("male", in this context, indicating the bisexual state). Inflorescence a panicle; embraced at base by subtending leaf.

Panicle contracted; lanceolate; 20–30 cm long; 3–5 cm wide. Primary panicle branches 3–5 cm long. Panicle axis pubescent. Panicle branches scabrous; bearded in axils.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels 2–3 mm long; ciliate.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 4–5 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets cuneate; laterally compressed; 10–14 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus evident; 1 mm long; bearded. Floret callus hairs 2.5–3 mm long.

GLUMES Glumes similar; shorter than spikelet; similar to fertile lemma in texture; gaping. Lower glume lanceolate; 9–12 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 1–3 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent, or obscure. Lower glume surface asperulous. Lower glume margins ciliolate. Lower glume apex obtuse, or acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 9–12 mm long; 1.5–1.7 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 1–3 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent, or obscure. Upper glume surface asperulous. Upper glume margins ciliolate. Upper glume apex obtuse, or acute.

FLORETS Fertile florets female. Fertile lemma ovate; 6–7 mm long; membranous; without keel; 3–5 -veined. Lemma surface scaberulous; plumose; hairy below. Lemma margins ciliate. Lemma hairs 2–2.5 mm long. Lemma apex entire, or dentate; 3 -fid; acuminate; muticous. Palea lanceolate; 6–7 mm long; 2 length of lemma; 2 -veined. Palea keels ciliolate. Palea surface pilose; hairy on back and on flanks. Palea apex dentate; 2 -fid. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

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

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

MALE Male inflorescence bisexual similar to female; a panicle. Male spikelets resembling female.

DISTRIBUTION South America: Brazil.

NOTES Arundineae. Conert 1993.

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