Gynerium sagittatum

HABIT Perennial. Rhizomes elongated. Culms erect; reed-like; 300–1000 cm long; 20–80 mm diam. Culm-internodes solid. Leaves cauline; distichous. Ligule a ciliolate membrane. Collar with external ligule. Leaf-blades 40–200 cm long; 20–80 mm wide. Leaf-blade margins scabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Dioecious. Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; 100–150 cm long. Primary panicle branches profusely divided.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets cuneate; laterally compressed; 7–10 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus elongated; 0.5 mm long; glabrous, or pilose.

GLUMES Glumes deciduous; dissimilar; exceeding apex of florets; similar to fertile lemma in texture; recurved at apex (upper glume). Lower glume linear; 3 mm long; 0.3–0.5 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume linear; 7–10 mm long; 1.5–2 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex caudate.

FLORETS Fertile florets recurved at tip; female. Fertile lemma elliptic; 5 mm long; membranous; without keel; 3 -veined. Lemma surface plumose; hairy below. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex caudate. Palea 0.25 length of lemma; 2 -veined.

FLOWER Lodicules 2. Anthers 2; 1.5–2 mm long. Stigmas 2.

MALE Male inflorescence similar to female; a panicle. Male spikelets distinct from female (glabrous); 3 mm long. Male spikelet glumes 2.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: west tropical. North America: Mexico. South America: Mesoamericana, Caribbean, northern South America, western South America, Brazil, and southern South America.

NOTES Arundineae. Pohl.

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