Ichnanthus camporum

HABIT Perennial. Rhizomes elongated. Culms 60–110 cm long. Culm-internodes distally glabrous, or pilose. Leaves mostly basal. Leaf-sheaths pilose, or hirsute. Ligule a ciliate membrane; 1 mm long. Leaf-blades lanceolate; 16–20 cm long; 6–9 mm wide. Leaf-blade venation with distinct cross veins. Leaf-blade surface pilose, or hirsute. Leaf-blade margins cartilaginous; serrulate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; lanceolate, or ovate; 10–30 cm long. Primary panicle branches 6–8 in number; simple. Panicle branches bearing distant spikelets.

Spikelets ascending; in pairs. Fertile spikelets sessile and pedicelled; 2 in the cluster. Pedicels filiform; angular.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; laterally compressed; 5–5.5 mm long; falling entire; readily shedding fertile florets. Floret callus winged; with apical wings reduced to convex swellings; these appendages 1 mm long.

GLUMES Glumes similar; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 3–3.5 mm long; 0.6 length of spikelet; herbaceous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins ribbed. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 1 length of spikelet; herbaceous; 1-keeled; 5 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins ribbed. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; with palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; oblong; 1 length of spikelet; 1-keeled; 5 -veined; ribbed; acute. Fertile lemma elliptic; dorsally compressed; 3–3.5 mm long; indurate; without keel. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex acute. Palea involute; indurate.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; cuneate; fleshy. Anthers 3.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION South America: Brazil.

NOTES Paniceae. Stieber.

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