Cryptochloa soderstromii

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms 60–100 cm long. Culm-internodes hollow; smooth, or scaberulous. Culm-nodes glabrous. Leaves cauline. Leaf-sheaths outer margin glabrous. Leaf-sheath auricles erect. Ligule a ciliolate membrane; 5–8 mm long. Leaf-blade base symmetrical; with a brief petiole-like connection to sheath; petiole 0.15 cm long; petiole glabrous. Leaf-blades elliptic, or oblong, or ovate; 10–13 cm long; 30–40 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Monoecious; with male and female spikelets in the same inflorescence. Inflorescence a panicle; terminal and axillary; embraced at base by subtending leaf; with 2–3 peduncles per sheath.

Panicle contracted; lanceolate; bearing few spikelets. Primary panicle branches appressed. Panicle branches angular; scaberulous.

Sexes segregated; on unisexual branches; with male below. Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Male spikelets pedicelled; 1 in a cluster, or 2 in a cluster. Pedicels filiform (male), or clavate (female).

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; dorsally compressed; 9–13 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus evident; 1.6–2.2 mm long.

GLUMES Glumes deciduous; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 9–13 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 7–9 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins with cross-veins. Lower glume surface scabrous; rough above. Lower glume apex acute; muticous, or awned; 1 -awned. Lower glume awn 0–3 mm long. Upper glume lanceolate; 9–13 mm long; 1.2–1.6 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 7–9 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins with cross-veins. Upper glume surface scabrous; rough above. Upper glume apex acute; muticous, or mucronate, or awned; 1 -awned. Upper glume awn 0–1 mm long.

FLORETS Fertile florets female. Fertile lemma lanceolate; 7.8–8.3 mm long; indurate; shiny; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex acute. Palea involute; 1 length of lemma; indurate; 2 -veined.

FLOWER Lodicules 3; membranous; veined. Anthers 3; 3.3–3.6 mm long. Stigmas 2.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

MALE Male spikelets distinct from female; 1 flowered; lanceolate; 3.5–5 mm long; glabrous. Male spikelet glumes absent. Male spikelet lemma 3 -veined; muticous.

DISTRIBUTION South America: Mesoamericana.

NOTES Olyreae. Davidse 1994.

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