Ichnanthus zehntneri

HABIT Perennial; culms solitary. Rhizomes short. Basal innovations flabellate. Culms erect; 50–100 cm long. Leaves mostly basal. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface; outer margin hairy. Ligule a ciliate membrane; 1 mm long. Leaf-blade base with a false petiole; petiole 1–5 cm long. Leaf-blades linear, or lanceolate; 15–30 cm long; 5–10 mm wide; stiff. Leaf-blade venation with distinct cross veins. Leaf-blade surface pilose; hairy adaxially. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; oblong; 10–20 cm long. Primary panicle branches ascending, or spreading; simple; 2–6 cm long. Panicle branches bearing congested spikelets.

Spikelets ascending; in pairs. Fertile spikelets pedicelled; 2 in the cluster. Pedicels oblong; angular.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; laterally compressed; 4–5 mm long; falling entire; readily shedding fertile florets. Floret callus winged; with apical wings adnate to lemma; these appendages 0.7–0.9 mm long.

GLUMES Glumes similar; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 3 mm long; 0.66 length of spikelet; herbaceous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 1 length of spikelet; herbaceous; 1-keeled; 5 -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 -veined; acute. Fertile lemma elliptic; dorsally compressed; 3 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.