Olyra maranonensis

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect; 50–100 cm long; woody. Culm-internodes hollow; distally glabrous. Culm-nodes swollen; purple; glabrous. Leaves cauline. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface, or pubescent; outer margin glabrous, or hairy. Ligule a ciliate membrane; 0.5 mm long. Leaf-blade base asymmetrical; with a brief petiole-like connection to sheath; petiole 0.3 cm long; petiole glabrous. Leaf-blades lanceolate; 18–23 cm long; 36–40 mm wide. Leaf-blade venation parallel. Leaf-blade surface glabrous. Leaf-blade margins scaberulous. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

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

Panicle open; pyramidal; 13 cm long; 4 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 scabrous; glabrous in axils.

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

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; dorsally compressed; 11–25 mm long; 2.5–2.7 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 elliptic; 11–25 mm long; 1.1–2 length of upper glume; herbaceous; without keels; 5 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins with cross-veins. Lower glume surface scabrous; rough above; glabrous; inner surface glabrous. Lower glume apex acuminate; awned; 1 -awned. Lower glume awn 5–10 mm long. Upper glume elliptic; 10–13 mm long; 1.3–1.7 length of adjacent fertile lemma; herbaceous; without keels; 7 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins with cross-veins. Upper glume surface asperulous; rough above; inner surface glabrous. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile florets female. Fertile lemma elliptic; dorsally compressed; 7.5 mm long; indurate; pallid; shiny; without keel. Lemma surface smooth; pubescent; hairy above and below. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex acute. Palea indurate; without keels.

FLOWER Lodicules 3. Anthers 3. Stigmas 2.

FRUIT Disseminule comprising a floret.

MALE Male spikelets distinct from female; 1 flowered; lanceolate; 3.5–4.7 mm long; hairy. Male spikelet glumes absent. Male spikelet lemma 3 -veined; awned.

DISTRIBUTION South America: western South America.

NOTES Olyreae. Sod & Zuol.

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