Imperata parodii

HABIT Perennial. Rhizomes elongated. Culms erect; 53–63 cm long; 3 -noded. Culm-internodes distally glabrous. Lateral branches lacking. Leaf-sheaths longer than adjacent culm internode; glabrous on surface. Ligule a ciliate membrane; 0.5–1 mm long; brown. Leaf-blades erect; flat, or convolute; 11–14 cm long; 3–6 mm wide; stiff. Leaf-blade surface pilose; hairy adaxially. Leaf-blade apex attenuate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle with branches tipped by a raceme.

Panicle spiciform; linear, or oblong; 6–13.5 cm long; 2–2.5 cm wide. Primary panicle branches 0.5–2.5 cm long.

Racemes bearing few fertile spikelets. Rhachis tough; subterete. Rhachis internodes filiform.

Spikelets in pairs. Fertile spikelets pedicelled; 2 in the cluster. Pedicels filiform; unequal; 2.5 mm long; tip discoid.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; subterete; 3 mm long; falling entire. Spikelet callus bearded; base truncate. Spikelet callus hairs white; 8–12 mm long.

GLUMES Glumes similar; exceeding apex of florets; firmer than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 2.5 mm long; 0.9 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 3–5 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins all falling short of apex. Lower glume surface villous; hairy below. Lower glume apex obtuse. Upper glume lanceolate; 3 mm long; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 5 -veined. Upper glume surface villous. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to fertile lemma; oblong; hyaline. Fertile lemma ovate; 2 mm long; hyaline; without keel; 0 -veined. Lemma surface puberulous; hairy above. Lemma apex dentate; 3 -fid.

FLOWER Lodicules 2. Anthers 1; 2 mm long. Stigmas 2.

DISTRIBUTION South America: southern South America.

NOTES Andropogoneae. Acevedo 2004.

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