Ichnanthus inconstans

HABIT Perennial. Rhizomes elongated. Culms 40–90 cm long; woody. Leaves cauline. Ligule a ciliate membrane; 0.5 mm long. Leaf-blade base cordate. Leaf-blades lanceolate; 9–20 cm long; 15–20(–30) mm wide. Leaf-blade surface pubescent. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; 4–24 cm long; 2–9 cm wide. Primary panicle branches 1–11 cm long; bearing spikelets almost to the base. Panicle branches pubescent.

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 elliptic; laterally compressed; 3.5–4.5(–5.5) 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 ovate; 0.5–1 length of spikelet; herbaceous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Lower glume surface asperulous; glabrous, or pilose. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; herbaceous; without keels; 5 -veined. Upper glume surface glabrous, or pilose. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets male; with palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; ovate; 1 length of spikelet; without keels; 3 -veined; acute. Fertile lemma elliptic; dorsally compressed; 3 mm long; indurate; dark brown; shiny; without keel. Lemma lateral veins obscure. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea involute; indurate.

FLOWER Anthers 3.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION North America: Mexico. South America: Mesoamericana, western South America, Brazil, and southern South America.

NOTES Paniceae. Stieber.

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