Olyra buchtienii

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect; 200–300 cm long; woody. Culm-internodes hollow; distally glabrous. Culm-nodes brown; glabrous, or pubescent. Leaves cauline. Leaf-sheaths 13–20 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 3–5 mm long; brown. Leaf-blade base asymmetrical; with a brief petiole-like connection to sheath; petiole 0.4–0.6 cm long; petiole glabrous, or pubescent. Leaf-blades lanceolate; 20–30 cm long; 35–73 mm wide. Leaf-blade venation parallel. Leaf-blade surface glabrous. Leaf-blade margins scaberulous. Leaf-blade apex acute.

INFLORESCENCE Monoecious; with male and female spikelets in the same inflorescence. Inflorescence a panicle; terminal and axillary.

Panicle open; obovate; 6–12 cm long; 15 cm wide. Primary panicle branches spreading; whorled at most nodes; bearing 1–2 fertile spikelets on each lower branch; bearing spikelets almost to the base.

Sexes segregated; on bisexual branches; with male below. Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Male spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels (female) clavate; angular; 6–30 mm long; scabrous.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; dorsally compressed; 28–38 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume elliptic; 38–38 mm long; 1.3–1.4 length of upper glume; herbaceous; without keels; 9–15 -veined. Lower glume surface pubescent, or hispid; inner surface pubescent. Lower glume apex setaceously attenuate; awned; 1 -awned. Lower glume awn 3–20 mm long. Upper glume elliptic; 20–29 mm long; 2.2–2.6 length of adjacent fertile lemma; herbaceous; without keels; 7–9 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins with cross-veins. Upper glume surface pubescent, or hispid; inner surface pubescent. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile florets female. Fertile lemma lanceolate; dorsally compressed; 9–11 mm long; indurate; pallid; shiny; without keel. Lemma surface smooth; glabrous. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex acute. Palea indurate; without keels.

FLOWER Lodicules 3. Anthers 3; 2.7–3.3 mm long. Stigmas 2.

FRUIT Disseminule comprising a floret.

MALE Male spikelets distinct from female; 1 flowered; elliptic; 5.4–10.7 mm long; glabrous, or hairy. Male spikelet glumes absent. Male spikelet lemma 3–5 -veined; awned; with 3 mm long awn.

DISTRIBUTION South America: western South America.

NOTES Olyreae. Sod & Zuol.

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