Ichnanthus tarumanensis

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms geniculately ascending, or decumbent; 50–80 cm long. Culm-nodes pubescent. Leaves basal and cauline. Leaf-sheaths pilose. Ligule a fringe of hairs; 1 mm long. Leaf-blades lanceolate; 10–20 cm long; 10–20 mm wide; membranous. Leaf-blade venation with distinct cross veins. Leaf-blade surface pilose; hairy on both sides. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; 10–20 cm long. Primary panicle branches 4–8 cm long; bearing 2–8 fertile spikelets on each lower branch. Panicle axis pilose. Panicle branches pilose.

Spikelets ascending; in pairs. Fertile spikelets sessile and pedicelled; 2 in the cluster. Pedicels filiform; angular; ciliate.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; laterally compressed; 4.5–6.5 mm long; falling entire; readily shedding fertile florets. Floret callus winged; with apical wings adnate to lemma; these appendages 0.5–1 mm long.

GLUMES Glumes similar; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume obovate; 0.66–1 length of spikelet; herbaceous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Lower glume apex attenuate; awned; 1 -awned. Lower glume awn 1.5 mm long. Upper glume lanceolate; 1 length of spikelet; herbaceous; 1-keeled; 5 -veined. Upper glume surface pilose. Upper glume hairs white. 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; pilose; bearing white hairs; acuminate. Fertile lemma elliptic; dorsally compressed; 3–3.5 mm long; indurate; 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: Brazil.

NOTES Paniceae. Stieber.

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