Ichnanthus tectus

HABIT Perennial. Culms erect; 100–120 cm long. Leaves mostly basal. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Ligule a fringe of hairs; 1–2 mm long. Leaf-blades lanceolate; 35–65 cm long; 8–10 mm wide. Leaf-blade venation with distinct cross veins. Leaf-blade surface glabrous; hairless except near base. Leaf-blade margins scabrous; tuberculate-ciliate; hairy at base. Leaf-blade apex acuminate, or attenuate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; 20–25 cm long. Primary panicle branches ascending, or spreading; 4–8 cm long. Panicle axis scabrous. Panicle branches stiff.

Spikelets appressed; 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 lanceolate; laterally compressed; 4.5–5 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. Lower glume lanceolate; 4 mm long; 0.8 length of spikelet; herbaceous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Lower glume apex obtuse. Upper glume lanceolate; 1 length of spikelet; herbaceous; 1-keeled; 5 -veined. Upper glume apex obtuse.

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; obtuse. Fertile lemma elliptic; dorsally compressed; 4 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: northern South America.

NOTES Paniceae. Stieber.

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