Cryptochloa dressleri

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Rhizomes short. Culms 30–50 cm long. Culm-internodes purple; ridged. Leaves cauline; 4–6 per branch. Leaf-sheaths ribbed; papillose; glabrous on surface. Leaf-sheath oral hairs lacking. Ligule a ciliolate membrane; 4.4–5.2 mm long; brown; obtuse. Leaf-blade base broadly rounded; symmetrical; with a brief petiole-like connection to sheath. Leaf-blades ascending, or spreading; linear, or lanceolate; 5–10 cm long; 10–15 mm wide; light green and purple (below); discolorous with last colour beneath. Leaf-blade midrib conspicuous; prominent beneath. Leaf-blade surface glabrous. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Monoecious; with male terminal and mixed axillary inflorescences. Inflorescence composed of racemes; axillary; enclosed.

Racemes 2; paired; bearing few fertile spikelets; bearing 3–4 fertile spikelets on each (female branch).

Sexes segregated; on unisexual branches; with male conjugate; with 5–8 male spikelets per branch. Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Male spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels cuneate (female).

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets oblong; dorsally compressed; 9.4–11.1 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus evident; 1.7 mm long.

GLUMES Glumes deciduous; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 10.9 mm long; 1.1–1.2 length of upper glume; membranous; purple; without keels; 5 -veined. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume ovate; 9.2 mm long; 1.3–1.4 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; purple; without keels; 5 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile florets female. Fertile lemma ovate; 6.8 mm long; indurate; pallid; shiny; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma lateral veins with cross-veins. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex acute. Palea 1 length of lemma; indurate; 2 -veined.

FLOWER Lodicules 3; cuneate; fleshy. Anthers 2; 1.3 mm long; orange. Stigmas 2; terminally exserted.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; ellipsoid. Embryo 0.2 length of caryopsis. Hilum linear; 1 length of caryopsis.

MALE Male spikelets distinct from female; 1 flowered; oblong; 2.2–3 mm long. Male spikelet glumes absent. Male spikelet lemma 3 -veined; muticous.

DISTRIBUTION South America: Mesoamericana.

NOTES Olyreae. Soderstrom 1994.

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