Isachne angustifolia

HABIT Perennial. Culms scandent; 100–200 cm long; 1–2 mm diam.; wiry. Lateral branches fastigiate; arising from upper culm. Leaf-sheaths smooth, or papillose; glabrous on surface, or pilose; with tubercle-based hairs; outer margin hairy. Ligule a fringe of hairs; 0.3–0.5 mm long. Leaf-blades spreading; lanceolate; 3–15 cm long; 5–12 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface smooth, or scaberulous. Leaf-blade margins tuberculate-ciliate, or tuberculate; hairy at base.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; elliptic, or oblong; 7–15 cm long. Primary panicle branches ascending, or spreading; branching divaricately.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets orbicular; dorsally compressed; obtuse; 1.5 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes deciduous; similar; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume orbicular; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 7 -veined. Lower glume surface hispidulous. Lower glume apex obtuse. Upper glume orbicular; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 7 -veined. Upper glume surface hispidulous. Upper glume apex obtuse.

FLORETS Fertile lemma orbicular; 1.5 mm long; coriaceous; without keel. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea coriaceous; 2 -veined.

FLOWER Anthers 3.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION South America: Caribbean.

NOTES Isachneae. Man Gr WI 1994.

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