Olyra davidseana

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms 75 cm long; woody. Culm-internodes hollow; scaberulous. Culm-nodes purple; glabrous. Lateral branches sparse; arising from mid culm. Leaves cauline; 4–7 per branch. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface; outer margin hairy. Ligule a ciliate membrane. Leaf-blade base broadly rounded; symmetrical; with a brief petiole-like connection to sheath; petiole 0.2–0.4 cm long; petiole pubescent. Leaf-blades oblong, or ovate; 10–14 cm long; 30–40 mm wide. Leaf-blade venation parallel. Leaf-blade surface glabrous. Leaf-blade margins scabrous; ciliate; hairy at base. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

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

Panicle open; ovate; dense; 3–5 cm long; 1.5–2 cm wide. Primary panicle branches appressed; whorled at lower nodes; 1–1.5 cm long. Panicle branches angular; scabrous.

Sexes segregated; on unisexual branches; with male below. Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Male spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels (female) clavate; scabrous; glabrous.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets ovate; dorsally compressed; 13–16 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes deciduous; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 13–16 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 9 -veined. Lower glume surface scabrous; rough on veins. Lower glume apex attenuate. Upper glume ovate; 13–16 mm long; 2 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 7 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins with cross-veins. Upper glume surface scabrous; rough on veins. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile florets female. Fertile lemma elliptic, or oblong; dorsally compressed; 6–7 mm long; 2.7–3 mm wide; indurate; pallid; shiny; without keel. Lemma surface smooth. Lemma margins involute; ciliate; hairy below. Lemma hairs 1–1.5 mm long. Lemma apex acute. Palea 1 length of lemma; indurate; without keels.

FLOWER Lodicules 3; elliptic; 1 mm long. Anthers 3; 2–3 mm long; purple. Stigmas 2.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

MALE Male spikelets distinct from female; 1 flowered; lanceolate; 6–8 mm long; glabrous. Male spikelet glumes absent. Male spikelet lemma 3 -veined.

DISTRIBUTION South America: Brazil.

NOTES Olyreae. Jud. & Zuol. 2001.

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