Ichnanthus longiglumis

HABIT Perennial. Culms erect; 15–40 cm long. Leaves cauline. Leaf-sheaths pilose. Ligule a ciliate membrane; 1 mm long. Leaf-blade base broadly rounded, or cordate. Leaf-blades lanceolate; 6–8 cm long; 5–10 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous, or pubescent, or pilose. Leaf-blade apex attenuate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle; terminal and axillary; embraced at base by subtending leaf.

Panicle open; ovate; 4–9 cm long. Primary panicle branches 2–5 cm long; bearing spikelets almost to the base.

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 lanceolate; laterally compressed; 6–7 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 lanceolate; 1 length of spikelet; herbaceous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Lower glume surface glabrous, or pilose. Lower glume apex acute, or acuminate. 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; 5 -veined; glabrous, or pilose; acute. Fertile lemma elliptic; dorsally compressed; 3–3.5 mm long; indurate; without keel. Lemma lateral veins obscure. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea involute; indurate.

FLOWER 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.