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GrassBase - The Online World Grass Flora
Descriptions
W.D. Clayton, M. Vorontsova, K.T. Harman & H. Williamson
© Copyright The Board of Trustees, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
Cryptochloa unispiculata
HABIT Perennial. Rhizomes short. Culms erect; 30–50 cm long. Leaves cauline; 12–15 per branch. Leaf-sheaths pubescent. Leaf-sheath oral hairs lacking. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.3 mm long. Leaf-blade base with a brief petiole-like connection to sheath; petiole pubescent. Leaf-blades oblong; 8–12 cm long; 15–20 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous. Leaf-blade margins scabrous. Leaf-blade apex abruptly acute.
INFLORESCENCE Monoecious; with male and female spikelets in the same inflorescence. Inflorescence comprising only a few spikelets; comprising 1 fertile spikelets (and 2 male); axillary; embraced at base by subtending leaf. Axillary inflorescences present in upper axils.
Sexes segregated; with male below. Spikelets in threes. Fertile spikelets pedicelled; 1 in the cluster. Male spikelets sessile; 2 in a cluster. Pedicels clavate.
FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; dorsally compressed; 17–20 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus elongated; 3–4 mm long.
GLUMES Glumes deciduous; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume linear, or lanceolate; 17–20 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 5 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins with cross-veins. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume linear, or lanceolate; 17–20 mm long; 1.2–1.4 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 5 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins with cross-veins. Upper glume apex acuminate.
FLORETS Fertile florets female. Fertile lemma lanceolate; 14 mm long; indurate; pallid; shiny; without keel. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex acute; pubescent. Palea 1 length of lemma; indurate. Palea apex pubescent.
FLOWER Lodicules 3; membranous. Anthers 3; 2 mm long. Stigmas 2.
MALE Male spikelets distinct from female; 1 flowered; separately deciduous; elliptic; 4.3–4.6 mm long; glabrous. Male spikelet glumes absent. Male spikelet lemma 3 -veined; muticous.
DISTRIBUTION South America: western South America and Brazil.
NOTES Olyreae. Soderstrom.
Please cite this publication as detailed in How to Cite Version: 3rd February 2016.
