Olyra caudata

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect; 100–250 cm long; woody. Culm-internodes hollow. Culm-nodes pubescent. Leaves cauline. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface to pilose; outer margin hairy. Leaf-sheath auricles erect. Ligule a ciliolate membrane; 5–10 mm long; pubescent on abaxial surface. Leaf-blade base broadly rounded; asymmetrical; with a brief petiole-like connection to sheath; petiole 0.5–0.8 cm long; petiole pilose. Leaf-blades lanceolate, or ovate; 18–30 cm long; 10–20 mm wide. Leaf-blade venation parallel. Leaf-blade surface scabrous; glabrous to pilose. Leaf-blade margins scabrous. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

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

Panicle open; obovate; effuse; 15–20 cm long; 10–20 cm wide. Primary panicle branches spreading; whorled at most nodes; bearing 1 fertile spikelets on each lower branch; bearing spikelets almost to the base. Panicle branches bearded in axils.

Sexes segregated; on bisexual branches; with male below. Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Male spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels (female) linear; angular; scabrous; glabrous, or ciliate; tip widened.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets ovate; dorsally compressed; 30–48 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes elongated below proximal fertile floret. Rhachilla elongation 0.4 mm long.

GLUMES Glumes deciduous; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 30–48 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 9 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins with cross-veins. Lower glume surface pilose; inner surface pilose. Lower glume apex caudate; awned; 1 -awned. Lower glume awn 20–30 mm long. Upper glume ovate; 30–48 mm long; 3.5–5 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 9 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins with cross-veins. Upper glume surface pilose; inner surface pilose. Upper glume apex caudate; awned; 1 -awned. Upper glume awn 20–30 mm long.

FLORETS Fertile florets female. Fertile lemma ovate; dorsally compressed; 8.2–10 mm long; indurate; grey to light brown; shiny; without keel. Lemma surface smooth; with distinct germination flap; glabrous. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex acute. Palea indurate; without keels.

FLOWER Lodicules 3. Anthers 3. Stigmas 2.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; ovoid; 6–6.8 mm long. Embryo 0.11–0.13 length of caryopsis. Hilum linear; 1 length of caryopsis. Disseminule comprising a floret.

MALE Male spikelets distinct from female; 1 flowered; lanceolate; 3.3–4.8 mm long; glabrous. Male spikelet glumes absent. Male spikelet lemma 3 -veined; muticous.

DISTRIBUTION South America: Mesoamericana, northern South America, western South America, and Brazil.

NOTES Olyreae. Sod & Zuol.

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