Cryptochloa variana

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms geniculately ascending, or decumbent; 10–20 cm long; wiry. Culm-nodes pubescent. Leaves cauline; 3–5 per branch. Leaf-sheaths keeled; pubescent; outer margin hairy. Leaf-sheath auricles absent, or erect. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1–3 mm long. Leaf-blade base broadly rounded; with a brief petiole-like connection to sheath; petiole 0.1 cm long; petiole pubescent. Leaf-blades lanceolate, or oblong; 4–6 cm long; 8–13 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous, or puberulous; hairy on both sides. Leaf-blade apex acute, or acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Monoecious; with male and female spikelets in the same inflorescence. Inflorescence a panicle; comprising 1–6 fertile spikelets; terminal and axillary; embraced at base by subtending leaf.

Panicle contracted; linear; 2–3 cm long; bearing few spikelets. Primary panicle branches appressed; indistinct the panicle almost racemose. Panicle branches pubescent.

Sexes segregated; on unisexual branches; with male below. Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Male spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels clavate (female); 4–10 mm long.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; dorsally compressed; 7–8.5 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus evident; 0.5–1 mm long.

GLUMES Glumes deciduous; similar; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume elliptic; 7–8.5 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins with cross-veins. Lower glume surface smooth, or asperulous. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume elliptic; 1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins with cross-veins. Upper glume surface smooth, or asperulous. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile florets female. Fertile lemma elliptic; 6.5–7 mm long; indurate; grey and dark brown; mottled with last colour; shiny; without keel. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex acute. Palea involute; 1 length of lemma; indurate.

FLOWER Lodicules 3; membranous. Anthers 3; 1 mm long. Stigmas 2.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; 1.5 mm long.

MALE Male spikelets distinct from female; 1 flowered; linear; 2.5 mm long. Male spikelet glumes absent. Male spikelet lemma 3 -veined; muticous.

DISTRIBUTION South America: Mesoamericana and western South America.

NOTES Olyreae. Fl Panama 1994.

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