Ichnanthus lanceolatus

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms 35–75 cm long. Lateral branches ample. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface, or hirsute; outer margin hairy. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blade base with a brief petiole-like connection to sheath; petiole 0.3–0.6 cm long. Leaf-blades lanceolate; 5–12 cm long; 10–20 mm wide. Leaf-blade venation with distinct cross veins. Leaf-blade surface glabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 4–10; borne along a central axis; 5–8 cm long. Central inflorescence axis 10–15 cm long. Spikelet packing lax; irregular.

Spikelets appressed; in pairs. Fertile spikelets sessile and pedicelled; 2 in the cluster. Pedicels filiform; angular; 3–4 mm long.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; laterally compressed; 3–4 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 lanceolate; 2–3 mm long; 0.66–0.75 length of spikelet; herbaceous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins ribbed. Lower glume surface glabrous. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 1 length of spikelet; herbaceous; 1-keeled; 5 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins ribbed. Upper glume apex acuminate.

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; acuminate. Fertile lemma elliptic; dorsally compressed; 2–3 mm long; indurate; shiny; without keel. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea involute; indurate.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; cuneate; fleshy. Anthers 3.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION North America: Mexico. South America: Mesoamericana.

NOTES Paniceae. Stieber.

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