Cryptochloa strictiflora

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms geniculately ascending; 35–55 cm long. Culm-internodes with small lumen; distally hispid. Culm-nodes swollen; pubescent. Leaves cauline; 5–17 per branch. Leaf-sheaths tight; puberulous; outer margin hairy. Leaf-sheath auricles erect. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 4–6 mm long; pubescent on abaxial surface; acute. Collar pubescent. Leaf-blade base with a brief petiole-like connection to sheath; petiole 0.15 cm long; petiole pubescent. Leaf-blades elliptic; 5–8 cm long; 14–24 mm wide; dark green and purple; discolorous with last colour beneath. Leaf-blade apex abruptly acute.

INFLORESCENCE Monoecious; with male and female spikelets in the same inflorescence (or some all female). Inflorescence a panicle; terminal and axillary; embraced at base by subtending leaf.

Panicle contracted; linear; bearing few spikelets. Primary panicle branches indistinct the panicle almost racemose.

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

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; dorsally compressed; 10.5–12 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus evident; 1.2–1.5 mm long.

GLUMES Glumes deciduous; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 10.5–12 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 3(–5) -veined. Lower glume apex acuminate; muticous, or awned; 1 -awned. Lower glume awn 0.5–1.5 mm long. Upper glume lanceolate; 10.5–12 mm long; 1.7 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 5 -veined. Upper glume apex acuminate; muticous, or awned; 1 -awned. Upper glume awn 0.5–1.5 mm long.

FLORETS Fertile florets female. Fertile lemma ovate; 6–7 mm long; indurate; pallid; shiny; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex acute. Palea ovate; involute; 1 length of lemma; indurate.

FLOWER Lodicules 3; membranous; veined. Anthers 3; 2.4–2.6 mm long. Stigmas 2; terminally exserted.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; ellipsoid, or ovoid; dorsally compressed; 5 mm long; light brown. Hilum linear; 1 length of caryopsis.

MALE Male spikelets distinct from female; 1 flowered; linear; 4.8–6 mm long. Male spikelet glumes absent. Male spikelet lemma 3 -veined; muticous.

DISTRIBUTION North America: Mexico. South America: Mesoamericana and western South America.

NOTES Olyreae. Fl Costaric 1994.

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