Olyra longifolia

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Rhizomes short. Culms scandent, or erect; 30–500 cm long; woody. Culm-nodes pubescent. Lateral branches sparse. Leaves cauline. Leaf-sheaths ribbed; pubescent. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.3–0.6 mm long; truncate. Leaf-blade base simple, or broadly rounded; with a brief petiole-like connection to sheath. Leaf-blades lanceolate; 5.5–21 cm long; 12–57 mm wide. Leaf-blade venation parallel; with distinct cross veins. Leaf-blade surface hispid; hairy abaxially. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

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

Panicle spiciform; linear; 3.5–7.5 cm long; 1–2 cm wide. Panicle branches scabrous.

Sexes segregated; on unisexual branches; with male conjugate. Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Male spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels cuneate; angular.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; dorsally compressed; 17–22 mm long; 2.4–3 mm wide; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 17–22 mm long; 1.1–1.2 length of upper glume; herbaceous; without keels; 7–13 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins with cross-veins. Lower glume surface glabrous. Lower glume apex caudate; awned; 1 -awned. Upper glume ovate; 15–18 mm long; 2–3 length of adjacent fertile lemma; herbaceous; without keels; 7–13 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins with cross-veins. Upper glume surface glabrous. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile florets female. Fertile lemma obovate; dorsally compressed; 5.2–6.6 mm long; indurate; pallid; without keel; 7 -veined. Lemma lateral veins obscure. Lemma surface with distinct germination flap; puberulous; hairy above. 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; 2–3 mm long. Stigmas 2.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; obovoid; 3.8–4.2 mm long; dark brown. Embryo 0.2 length of caryopsis. Hilum linear; 1 length of caryopsis. Endosperm farinose. Disseminule comprising a floret.

MALE Male spikelets distinct from female; 1 flowered; separately deciduous; lanceolate; 5.3–7.3 mm long. Male spikelet glumes absent. Male spikelet lemma 3 -veined; muticous.

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

NOTES Olyreae. WDC.

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