Ichnanthus hirtus

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect; 45–80 cm long. Leaves basal and cauline. Leaf-sheaths outer margin hairy. Leaf-sheath auricles erect. Ligule a ciliolate membrane; 1 mm long. Leaf-blades lanceolate; 7–17 cm long; 7–15 mm wide; stiff. Leaf-blade venation with distinct cross veins. Leaf-blade surface scabrous; rough adaxially; pubescent; hairy abaxially. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes borne along a central axis; 4–6 cm long. Central inflorescence axis 3–12 cm long; pubescent. Rhachis pubescent on surface. Spikelet packing crowded; irregular.

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 oblong; laterally compressed; 4–5 mm long; falling entire; readily shedding fertile florets. Floret callus winged; with apical wings adnate to lemma; these appendages 1 mm long.

GLUMES Glumes similar; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume obovate; 0.5–0.75 length of spikelet; herbaceous; 1-keeled; 3–5 -veined. Lower glume surface pilose; hairy at apex. Lower glume margins ciliate. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume oblong; 1 length of spikelet; herbaceous; 1-keeled; 5–7 -veined. Upper glume surface pubescent; hairy at apex. 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; 5–7 -veined; acute. Fertile lemma oblong; dorsally compressed; 4 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.