Olyra filiformis

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Rhizomes short. Culms scandent; 40–125 cm long; woody; without nodal roots, or rooting from lower nodes. Culm-internodes hollow; distally glabrous, or pilose. Culm-nodes pubescent, or bearded. Leaves cauline. Leaf-sheaths pilose. Leaf-sheath auricles erect. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.5–1.8 mm long; pubescent on abaxial surface. Leaf-blade base asymmetrical; with a brief petiole-like connection to sheath; petiole 0.2 cm long; petiole pilose. Leaf-blades lanceolate, or oblong; 11–14 cm long; 12–28 mm wide. Leaf-blade venation parallel. Leaf-blade surface scaberulous, or scabrous; rough on both sides; hispid; hairy adaxially. Leaf-blade margins scabrous.

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

Panicle contracted; linear; 5–10 cm long; 0.7–2 cm wide. Primary panicle branches appressed; bearing 1 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 sessile and pedicelled; 2 in a cluster. Pedicels (female) clavate; angular; pubescent.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; dorsally compressed; 17–24 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 lanceolate; 17–24 mm long; 1.2–1.3 length of upper glume; herbaceous; pallid; without keels; 7–9 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins with cross-veins. Lower glume surface asperulous; inner surface pilose (at apex). Lower glume apex attenuate; awned; 1 -awned. Lower glume awn 6 mm long. Upper glume lanceolate; 13–20 mm long; 1.9–2.4 length of adjacent fertile lemma; herbaceous; pallid; without keels; 7–9 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins with cross-veins. Upper glume surface asperulous; inner surface pilose (at apex). Upper glume apex attenuate; awned; 1 -awned. Upper glume awn 6 mm long.

FLORETS Fertile florets female. Fertile lemma lanceolate; dorsally compressed; 6.8–8.5 mm long; indurate; pallid; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma surface pitted; glabrous. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex acute. Palea indurate; without keels.

FLOWER Lodicules 3. Anthers 3; 1.8–2.5 mm long. Stigmas 2.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; fusiform; 4.8–5.5 mm long; light brown. Disseminule comprising a floret.

MALE Male spikelets distinct from female; 1 flowered; lanceolate; 4.3–5.7 mm long; glabrous, or hairy. Male spikelet glumes absent. Male spikelet lemma 3 -veined; muticous.

DISTRIBUTION South America: Brazil.

NOTES Olyreae. Sod & Zuol.

ADDITIONAL CHARACTERS Lemma pits deep.

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