Olyra loretensis

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Rhizomes short. Culms geniculately ascending; 30–60 cm long; woody. Culm-internodes hollow; distally pubescent. Culm-nodes swollen; brown; pubescent. Leaves cauline; 5–15 per branch. Leaf-sheaths pubescent; with tubercle-based hairs; outer margin hairy. Ligule a ciliate membrane; 0.5 mm long. Leaf-blade base broadly rounded; asymmetrical; with a brief petiole-like connection to sheath; petiole 0.2–0.3 cm long; petiole pilose. Leaf-blades lanceolate, or ovate; 11–15 cm long; 35–58 mm wide. Leaf-blade venation parallel; with distinct cross veins. Leaf-blade surface glabrous; hairless except near base. Leaf-blade margins ciliate; hairy at base. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Monoecious; with male and female spikelets in the same inflorescence. Synflorescence on a separate leafless culm. Inflorescence a panicle; terminal and axillary.

Panicle open; ovate; 6–12 cm long; 5–14 cm wide. Primary panicle branches whorled at lower nodes; bearing 1 fertile spikelets on each lower branch; bearing spikelets almost to the base. Panicle branches smooth, or scabrous; bearded in axils.

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

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; dorsally compressed; 13–18 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 elliptic; 13–18 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; herbaceous; without keels; 5–9 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins with cross-veins. Lower glume surface scabrous; rough above. Lower glume apex acuminate; awned; 1 -awned. Lower glume awn 6–8 mm long. Upper glume ovate; 13–18 mm long; 1.7–2.2 length of adjacent fertile lemma; herbaceous; without keels; 5–9 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins with cross-veins. Upper glume surface scabrous; rough above. Upper glume apex acuminate; awned; 1 -awned. Upper glume awn 4–6 mm long.

FLORETS Fertile florets female. Fertile lemma elliptic; dorsally compressed; 7.8–8.1 mm long; indurate; pallid; without keel; 3 -veined. Lemma surface pilose; hairy all along. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex acuminate. Palea indurate; 2 -veined; without keels.

FLOWER Lodicules 3. Anthers 3. Stigmas 2.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; fusiform; 4.5 mm long. Hilum linear; 1 length of caryopsis. Disseminule comprising a floret.

MALE Male spikelets distinct from female; 1 flowered; lanceolate; 2.5–3.3 mm long; glabrous. Male spikelet glumes absent. Male spikelet lemma 3 -veined; awned; with 1–2 mm long awn.

DISTRIBUTION South America: western South America and Brazil.

NOTES Olyreae. Sod & Zuol.

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