Ischaemum latifolium

HABIT Perennial. Culms decumbent; 30–60 cm long; rooting from lower nodes. Leaf-sheaths wider than blade at the collar. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blade base broadly rounded. Leaf-blades lanceolate; 8–20 cm long; 10–30 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 5–14; digitate; 4–8 cm long. Rhachis fragile at the nodes; subterete; ciliate on margins. Rhachis internodes linear; 3 mm long. Rhachis internode tip transverse; cupuliform.

Spikelets in pairs. Fertile spikelets sessile and pedicelled; 2 in the cluster. Pedicels linear; terete; 2.5 mm long; ciliate.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 5–6.5 mm long; falling entire; deciduous from the base, or with accessory branch structures. Spikelet callus oblong; 1–2 mm long; bearded; base truncate; inserted. Spikelet callus hairs white; 2–3 mm long.

GLUMES Glumes dissimilar; exceeding apex of florets; firmer than fertile lemma. Lower glume oblong; 4.5 mm long; 1 length of spikelet; coriaceous; without keels; 5 -veined. Lower glume surface convex. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; coriaceous; without keels; 5 -veined. Upper glume apex acute; mucronate.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets male; with palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret elliptic; 1 length of spikelet; hyaline; 3 -veined; acute. Fertile lemma elliptic; 3 mm long; membranous; without keel; 1 -veined. Lemma apex entire, or dentate; 2 -fid; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn apical, or from a sinus; straight; 7 mm long overall. Palea 1 length of lemma.

DISTRIBUTION North America: Mexico. South America: Mesoamericana, Caribbean, northern South America, western South America, and Brazil.

NOTES Andropogoneae. WDC.

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