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Descriptions
W.D. Clayton, M. Vorontsova, K.T. Harman & H. Williamson
© Copyright The Board of Trustees, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
Cortaderia planifolia
HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped densely. Culms 25–40 cm long. Lateral branches lacking. Leaves mostly basal. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades 5–12 cm long; 3–6 mm wide; stiff. Leaf-blade surface glabrous. Leaf-blade apex pungent.
INFLORESCENCE Gynodioecious ("male", in this context, indicating the bisexual state). Inflorescence a panicle.
Panicle spiciform; oblong, or ovate; 5–7 cm long.
Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.
FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 3–4 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets cuneate; laterally compressed; 23–25 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus evident; bearded.
GLUMES Glumes similar; exceeding apex of florets; similar to fertile lemma in texture; gaping. Lower glume lanceolate; 23–25 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 23–25 mm long; 1.5–1.6 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.
FLORETS Fertile florets female. Fertile lemma ovate; 14–16 mm long; membranous; without keel. Lemma surface villous. Lemma apex lobed; 2 -fid; with filiform lobes; incised 0.5 of lemma length; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn from a sinus; 13–15 mm long overall. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.
FLOWER Lodicules 2; cuneate; fleshy. Anthers 3.
FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.
MALE Male inflorescence bisexual, similar to female.
DISTRIBUTION South America: western South America.
NOTES Arundineae. Gr Peru 1997.
Please cite this publication as detailed in How to Cite Version: 3rd February 2016.