Parodiolyra micrantha

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Rhizomes short. Culms scandent, or erect; 100–400 cm long; woody; without nodal roots. Culm-internodes terete; hollow; distally glabrous. Culm-nodes glabrous to pubescent. Lateral branches sparse. Leaves cauline. Leaf-sheaths narrower than blade at the collar; pubescent. Ligule a ciliolate membrane; 2.4–15 mm long; pubescent on abaxial surface; obtuse to acute. Leaf-blade base broadly rounded; with a brief petiole-like connection to sheath. Leaf-blades lanceolate to oblong; 13–32(–55) cm long; 2.4–12(–13) mm wide; discolorous with last colour beneath. Leaf-blade venation parallel; with distinct cross veins. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

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

Panicle open; pyramidal; 10–32 cm long; 4–14 cm wide. Primary panicle branches bearing spikelets almost to the base. Panicle branches smooth; hispid.

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

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets ovate; dorsally compressed; 5.4–12.8 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; 1.1 length of upper glume; herbaceous; without keels; 5 -veined. Lower glume primary vein eciliate, or ciliate. Lower glume lateral veins without connecting veins, or with cross-veins (seldom). Lower glume surface glabrous to pilose. Lower glume apex caudate; awned; 1 -awned. Lower glume awn 0.5–2.5 mm long. Upper glume ovate; 1.2 length of adjacent fertile lemma; herbaceous; without keels; 3–5 -veined. Upper glume primary vein eciliate, or ciliolate (seldom). Upper glume lateral veins without cross-veins, or with cross-veins (10 X lens). Upper glume surface glabrous to hispid. Upper glume apex caudate; muticous, or awned; 1 -awned. Upper glume awn 0–1 mm long.

FLORETS Fertile florets female. Fertile lemma ovate; dorsally compressed; 2.8–3.5 mm long; indurate; pallid, or dark brown; dull; without keel. Lemma lateral veins obscure. Lemma surface pitted. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex acute. Palea ovate; involute; 0.9 length of lemma; indurate; without keels. Palea surface scabrous. Palea apex obtuse.

FLOWER Lodicules 3. Stigmas 2. Ovary glabrous.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; dark brown. Embryo 0.2 length of caryopsis. Hilum linear; 1 length of caryopsis.

MALE Male spikelets distinct from female; 1 flowered; 7.4–9.3 mm long. Male spikelet glumes absent. Male spikelet lemma 7–9 -veined; awned.

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

NOTES Olyreae. TB.

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