Olyra latifolia

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms scandent, or erect; 60–400 cm long; woody; without nodal roots. Culm-internodes striate; distally glabrous, or pubescent. Culm-nodes glabrous, or pubescent. Lateral branches sparse. Leaves cauline. Leaf-sheaths narrower than blade at the collar; glabrous on surface, or pubescent. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1–5 mm long; truncate. Leaf-blade base broadly rounded; with a brief petiole-like connection to sheath. Leaf-blades oblong to ovate; 10–20 cm long; 30–60 mm wide. Leaf-blade venation parallel; with distinct cross veins. Leaf-blade apex acuminate (abruptly).

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

Panicle open; ovate; 7–25 cm long. Primary panicle branches bearing spikelets almost to the base. Panicle branches smooth; pubescent.

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

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets ovate; dorsally compressed; 5–12 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; subequal in width; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 1.2 length of upper glume; herbaceous; without keels; 7–9 -veined. Lower glume primary vein eciliate, or ciliolate (sometimes). Lower glume lateral veins without connecting veins, or with cross-veins. Lower glume surface glabrous to pubescent. Lower glume apex caudate; awned; 1 -awned. Lower glume awn 3–20 mm long. Upper glume ovate; 1.2 length of adjacent fertile lemma; herbaceous; without keels; 7–9 -veined. Upper glume primary vein eciliate, or ciliolate. Upper glume lateral veins without cross-veins, or with cross-veins (10 X lens). Upper glume surface glabrous to puberulous. Upper glume apex caudate; muticous, or awned; 1 -awned. Upper glume awn 0–7 mm long.

FLORETS Fertile florets female. Fertile lemma elliptic; dorsally compressed; 5–6 mm long; indurate; pallid; shiny; without keel. Lemma lateral veins obscure. Lemma surface with distinct germination flap. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea elliptic; involute; 1 length of lemma; indurate; without keels. Palea surface smooth. Palea apex obtuse.

FLOWER Lodicules 3; cuneate; membranous; veined. Anthers 3. Stigmas 2.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; oblong; flattened; 2.5–3 mm long; dark brown. Embryo 0.2 length of caryopsis. Hilum linear; 0.8 length of caryopsis. Endosperm farinose. Disseminule comprising a floret.

MALE Male spikelets distinct from female; 1 flowered; 5.5–8 mm long. Male spikelet glumes absent. Male spikelet lemma 3 -veined; awned; with 3–4 mm long awn.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: west tropical, west-central tropical, northeast tropical, east tropical, southern tropical, south, and western Indian ocean. North America: Mexico. South America: Mesoamericana, Caribbean, 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.