Ichnanthus breviscrobs

HABIT Perennial. Culms decumbent, or scandent; 100–500(–1000) cm long. Leaves cauline. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1 mm long. Leaf-blades lanceolate, or elliptic; 10–25 cm long; 15–30 mm wide; glaucous. Leaf-blade surface scaberulous; rough adaxially; glabrous, or pubescent; hairy abaxially. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; 15–30 cm long; 5–10 cm wide; contracted about primary branches. Primary panicle branches ascending, or spreading; 7 cm long; bearing spikelets almost to the base. Panicle branches pubescent in axils.

Spikelets in pairs. Fertile spikelets pedicelled; 2 in the cluster. Pedicels angular; unequal.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets ovate; laterally compressed; 4–4.5 mm long; falling entire; readily shedding fertile florets. Floret callus winged; with apical wings shrivelled to concave scars.

GLUMES Glumes similar; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 3.5 mm long; 0.6–0.8 length of spikelet; membranous; 1-keeled; 3–5 -veined. Lower glume surface pubescent. Lower glume apex obtuse. Upper glume ovate; herbaceous; without keels; 7 -veined. Upper glume surface pubescent. Upper glume apex obtuse.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets male; with palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; ovate; 1 length of spikelet; without keels; 7 -veined; pubescent; obtuse. Fertile lemma elliptic; dorsally compressed; 3.5–4 mm long; indurate; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma lateral veins obscure. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex acute. Palea involute; indurate.

FLOWER Anthers 3.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION South America: northern South America, western South America, and Brazil.

NOTES Paniceae. Stieber.

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