Olyra fasciculata

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Rhizomes short. Culms scandent, or erect; 150–300 cm long; woody. Culm-nodes glabrous. Lateral branches sparse. Leaves cauline. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface, or pilose. Ligule a ciliolate membrane; 1–4 mm long; truncate. Leaf-blade base with a brief petiole-like connection to sheath. Leaf-blades lanceolate, or ovate; 24–32 cm long; 50–132 mm wide. Leaf-blade venation parallel; with distinct cross veins. Leaf-blade apex acute.

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

Panicle open; ovate; 20–30 cm long; 16–25 cm wide. Primary panicle branches drooping; whorled at lower nodes; 16–25 cm long; bearing spikelets almost to the base. Panicle branches scabrous.

Sexes segregated; on bisexual branches; with male below. Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Male spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels cuneate; angular; ciliate.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; dorsally compressed; 22–33 mm long; 2.9–3.2 mm wide; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus evident; 0.8–1 mm long.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 22–33 mm long; 1.3–1.6 length of upper glume; herbaceous; without keels; 5–9 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins with cross-veins. Lower glume surface glabrous to pubescent; hairy above. Lower glume apex acuminate, or caudate; muticous, or awned; 1 -awned. Upper glume ovate; 17–20 mm long; 1.8 length of adjacent fertile lemma; herbaceous; without keels; 7–9 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins with cross-veins. Upper glume surface glabrous to puberulous; hairy above. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile florets female. Fertile lemma elliptic; dorsally compressed; 9–11.5 mm long; indurate; pallid; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma lateral veins obscure. Lemma surface pitted; with distinct germination flap. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex acute. Palea elliptic; involute; 1 length of lemma; indurate; without keels. Palea apex obtuse.

FLOWER Lodicules 3; cuneate; membranous; veined. Anthers 3; 7.6–8.5 mm long. Stigmas 2.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; fusiform; 6.8 mm long. Hilum linear; 1 length of caryopsis. Endosperm farinose. Disseminule comprising a floret.

MALE Male spikelets distinct from female; 1 flowered; separately deciduous; lanceolate; 8–13 mm long. Male spikelet glumes absent. Male spikelet lemma 3 -veined; awned.

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

NOTES Olyreae. WDC.

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