Melica arzivencoi

HABIT Perennial. Rhizomes elongated. Culms decumbent; 50–90 cm long; 0.6 mm diam. Culm-internodes scaberulous. Lateral branches lacking. Leaf-sheaths tubular for much of their length; with 1 of their length closed; scaberulous; glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.4–4 mm long. Leaf-blades 2–11 cm long; 1.5–4 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface hispid; hairy abaxially. Leaf-blade apex acute.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle contracted; linear; 6–10 cm long. Primary panicle branches appressed; simple; 1–3 cm long. Panicle axis dominant.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels filiform; curved; ciliate.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1–2 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets elliptic; laterally compressed; 4–7 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes dissimilar; with lower wider than upper; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 4–4.7 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; much thinner above; much thinner on margins; without keels; 3–5 -veined. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 3.5–4.5 mm long; 1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; much thinner above; with hyaline margins; without keels; 3–5 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; 4.1 mm long; chartaceous; much thinner above; much thinner on margins; without keel. Lemma margins ciliate. Lemma apex acute. Palea 2 -veined. Apical sterile florets barren; in a clump; elliptic; 2.2 mm long. Apical sterile lemmas acute.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; united; oblong; fleshy; truncate. Anthers 3.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; obovoid; 1.5 mm long; dark brown. Hilum linear.

DISTRIBUTION South America: Brazil.

NOTES Meliceae. Valls 1995.

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