Ichnanthus glaber

HABIT Perennial. Culms decumbent; 30–40 cm long; rooting from lower nodes. Leaves cauline. Leaf-sheath oral hairs ciliate. Leaf-sheath auricles erect; 2–4 mm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1 mm long. Leaf-blade base with a brief petiole-like connection to sheath. Leaf-blades lanceolate, or oblong; 10–16 cm long; 15–20 mm wide. Leaf-blade venation with distinct cross veins. Leaf-blade surface glabrous. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; effuse; 7–15 cm long; 5–10 cm wide. Primary panicle branches ascending. Panicle branches capillary; flexuous.

Spikelets ascending; in pairs. Fertile spikelets pedicelled; 2 in the cluster. Pedicels filiform; angular; 10–15 mm long.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; laterally compressed; acuminate; 5–6.5 mm long; falling entire; readily shedding fertile florets. Floret callus winged; with apical wings adnate to lemma; these appendages 0.7–0.9 mm long.

GLUMES Glumes similar; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate, or ovate; 3.5–4 mm long; 0.6–0.7 length of spikelet; herbaceous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Lower glume apex cuspidate. Upper glume lanceolate, or ovate; 1 length of spikelet; herbaceous; 1-keeled; 5 -veined. Upper glume apex cuspidate.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; with palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; lanceolate, or ovate; 1 length of spikelet; 1-keeled; 5 -veined; acute. Fertile lemma oblong; dorsally compressed; 3.5–4 mm long; indurate; without keel. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex acuminate. Palea involute; indurate.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; cuneate; fleshy. Anthers 3.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION South America: Brazil.

NOTES Paniceae. Stieber.

ADDITIONAL CHARACTERS Plants darken on drying.

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