Gouinia cearensis

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect, or scandent; 100–300 cm long. Lateral branches lacking. Leaf-sheaths antrorsely scabrous; pilose. Ligule a ciliolate membrane. Leaf-blades 10–25 cm long; 5–12 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scabrous; pilose; hairy abaxially.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes borne along a central axis; distant; unilateral; 4–12 cm long. Central inflorescence axis 10–28 cm long. Rhachis angular. Spikelet packing lax. Raceme-bases filiform.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels linear; 2–3 mm long.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 5–6 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 10–13 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus evident; bearded.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 4.5 mm long; 0.8 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Lower glume apex acute; mucronate. Upper glume elliptic; 5.5 mm long; 0.7–0.8 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 5 -veined. Upper glume apex obtuse; mucronate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; 7 mm long; membranous; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma midvein ciliate; hairy below. Lemma margins ciliate; hairy below. Lemma apex dentate; 2 -fid; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn from a sinus; 8–9 mm long overall. Palea surface glabrous. Palea apex awned; awns 1.5 mm long. Apical sterile florets 1 in number; barren; lanceolate. Apical sterile lemmas awned.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; cuneate; fleshy. Anthers 3.

DISTRIBUTION South America: Brazil.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Swallen.

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