Olyra retrorsa

HABIT Perennial. Culms erect; woody. Culm-internodes hollow; distally pubescent. Culm-nodes swollen; brown; glabrous. Leaves cauline. Leaf-sheaths pilose. Leaf-sheath auricles erect. Ligule a ciliolate membrane; 2.5–4 mm long; pubescent on abaxial surface. Leaf-blade base cordate; symmetrical; with a brief petiole-like connection to sheath; petiole 0.2–0.3 cm long; petiole pilose. Leaf-blades drooping; lanceolate; 10.5–13.3 cm long; 27–34 mm wide. Leaf-blade venation parallel. Leaf-blade surface glabrous; hairless except near base. Leaf-blade margins smooth, or scaberulous. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

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

Panicle contracted; oblong; 13.8 cm long; 1–2 cm wide. Primary panicle branches not whorled; bearing 1–4 fertile spikelets on each lower branch; bearing spikelets almost to the base. Panicle branches scabrous.

Sexes segregated; on unisexual branches and bisexual branches; with male below. Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Male spikelets sessile and pedicelled; 2 in a cluster. Pedicels (female) linear; angular; ciliate; tip widened.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; dorsally compressed; 13.8 mm long; 3.1 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; 13.8 mm long; 1.1–1.2 length of upper glume; herbaceous; without keels; 5–7 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins with cross-veins. Lower glume surface scabrous; rough above; glabrous; inner surface pilose. Lower glume apex caudate; muticous. Upper glume elliptic; 11.6–12.8 mm long; 1.4–1.5 length of adjacent fertile lemma; herbaceous; without keels; 5–7 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins with cross-veins. Upper glume surface scabrous; rough above; inner surface pilose. Upper glume apex caudate.

FLORETS Fertile florets female. Fertile lemma lanceolate; dorsally compressed; 8.5–8.7 mm long; 2.9 mm wide; indurate; light brown; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma surface pitted. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex acuminate; pubescent. Palea indurate; 2 -veined; without keels. Palea apex pubescent (retrorsely).

FLOWER Lodicules 3. Anthers 3; 3.1 mm long. Stigmas 2.

FRUIT Disseminule comprising a floret.

MALE Male spikelets distinct from female; 1 flowered; lanceolate; 9–9.7 mm long; glabrous. Male spikelet glumes absent. Male spikelet lemma 3 -veined; awned; with 1–2 mm long awn.

DISTRIBUTION South America: Brazil.

NOTES Olyreae. Sod & Zuol.

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