Ichnanthus riedelii

HABIT Perennial. Culms erect; 30–90 cm long. Culm-internodes distally pubescent. Leaves mostly basal. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface, or pilose. Ligule a ciliate membrane; 0.5 mm long. Leaf-blade base with a false petiole; petiole 2–7 cm long. Leaf-blades lanceolate; 8–20 cm long; 10–30 mm wide; herbaceous. Leaf-blade venation with distinct cross veins. Leaf-blade surface pubescent; hairy abaxially, or on both sides. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes borne along a central axis; appressed, or ascending; 7–14 cm long. 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; acute; 7 mm long; falling entire; readily shedding fertile florets. Floret callus winged; with apical wings adnate to lemma; these appendages 3–4.5 mm long.

GLUMES Glumes similar; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume oblong; 1 length of spikelet; herbaceous; 1-keeled; 7–9 -veined. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 1 length of spikelet; herbaceous; 1-keeled; 7–9 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; with palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; ovate; 1 length of spikelet; 1-keeled; 5–7 -veined; acute. Fertile lemma lanceolate; dorsally compressed; 6 mm long; indurate; pallid, or light brown; without keel. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex acute. Palea involute; indurate.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION South America: western South America and Brazil.

NOTES Paniceae. SAR 2003.

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