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Descriptions

W.D. Clayton, M. Vorontsova, K.T. Harman & H. Williamson

© Copyright The Board of Trustees, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Ichnanthus leiocarpus

HABIT Perennial. Rhizomes elongated. Culms decumbent, or rambling; 60–200 cm long. Culm-internodes distally glabrous, or pubescent. Lateral branches sparse; arising from lower culm. Leaves cauline. Leaf-sheaths pilose, or hirsute. Ligule a ciliate membrane; 1 mm long. Collar pilose. Leaf-blade base without a false petiole. Leaf-blades lanceolate; 10–20 cm long; 15–35 mm wide. Leaf-blade venation with distinct cross veins. Leaf-blade surface glabrous, or pubescent; hairy abaxially. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate, or obovate; 25–35 cm long. Primary panicle branches ascending, or spreading; whorled at most nodes; moderately divided, or profusely divided; 5–20 cm long. Panicle axis pilose. Panicle branches capillary; flexuous.

Spikelets ascending; in pairs. Fertile spikelets pedicelled; 2 in the cluster. Pedicels filiform; angular; 10–12 mm long.

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 1.5 mm long.

GLUMES Glumes similar; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma; gaping. Lower glume lanceolate, or ovate; 0.5–1 length of spikelet; herbaceous; 1-keeled; 3–5 -veined. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 1 length of spikelet; herbaceous; 1-keeled; 5–7 -veined. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; with palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; lanceolate; 1 length of spikelet; 1-keeled; 5–7 -veined; acuminate. Fertile lemma lanceolate; dorsally compressed; 3–3.5 mm long; indurate; pallid, or light brown; 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: Caribbean, northern South America, western South America, and Brazil.

NOTES Paniceae. Stieber.

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