Olyra latispicula

HABIT Perennial. Rhizomes short. Culms geniculately ascending; 70 cm long; woody. Culm-internodes hollow; distally pubescent; with reflexed hairs. Culm-nodes swollen; purple; glabrous. Leaves cauline; 10–15 per branch. Leaf-sheaths striately veined; glabrous on surface, or pubescent. Ligule a ciliate membrane; 0.3–0.4 mm long. Leaf-blade base broadly rounded; symmetrical; with a brief petiole-like connection to sheath; petiole 0.3–0.4 cm long; petiole pubescent. Leaf-blades lanceolate, or ovate; 9–11 cm long; 22–38 mm wide. Leaf-blade venation parallel. Leaf-blade surface glabrous. Leaf-blade margins scabrous; glabrous, or ciliate. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Monoecious; with male and female spikelets in the same inflorescence. Inflorescence a panicle; terminal and axillary. Peduncle 8–10 cm long; pubescent above.

Panicle open; pyramidal; 5–9 cm long; 1–3 cm wide. Primary panicle branches ascending; whorled at lower nodes; bearing spikelets almost to the base.

Sexes segregated; on unisexual branches, or bisexual branches; with male below. Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Male spikelets pedicelled; 2 in a cluster. Pedicels (female) clavate; angular; smooth; glabrous.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; dorsally compressed; 14.8–15.8 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes elongated below proximal fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 14.8–15.8 mm long; 2.2–2.5 length of upper glume; herbaceous; without keels; 5 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins with cross-veins. Lower glume surface asperulous. Lower glume apex caudate; awned; 1 -awned. Lower glume awn 5–8 mm long. Upper glume ovate; 6.6 mm long; 1.2 length of adjacent fertile lemma; herbaceous; without keels; 5 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins with cross-veins. Upper glume surface smooth; glabrous. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile florets female. Fertile lemma ovate; dorsally compressed; gibbous; 5.5 mm long; indurate; pallid; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma lateral veins with cross-veins. Lemma surface scabrous; with 2 longitudinal grooves. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex acute. Palea indurate; without keels.

FLOWER Lodicules 3. Anthers 3; 2.2 mm long. Stigmas 2.

FRUIT Disseminule comprising a floret.

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

DISTRIBUTION South America: Brazil.

NOTES Olyreae. Sod & Zuol.

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