Olyra taquara

HABIT Perennial. Rhizomes short. Culms erect; robust; 200–350 cm long; 5–10 mm diam.; woody. Culm-internodes hollow. Culm-nodes swollen; purple; glabrous, or pubescent. Leaves cauline. Leaf-sheaths ribbed; glabrous on surface to pubescent. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.7–1.4 mm long; brown. Leaf-blade base cordate; symmetrical; with a brief petiole-like connection to sheath; petiole 0.3–0.4 cm long; petiole pubescent. Leaf-blades reflexed; lanceolate, or ovate; 21–32 cm long; 56–80 mm wide. Leaf-blade venation parallel. Leaf-blade surface glabrous, or pubescent; hairy abaxially. Leaf-blade margins scabrous. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

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

Panicle open; corymbose; 10–23 cm long; 10–30 cm wide; contracted about primary branches. Primary panicle branches ascending, or spreading; whorled at lower nodes; 13–20 cm long; bearing 2–4 fertile spikelets on each lower branch; bearing spikelets almost to the base. Panicle branches pilose; bearded in axils.

Sexes segregated; on bisexual branches; with male below. Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Male spikelets pedicelled; 2 in a cluster. Pedicels (female) clavate; angular.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; dorsally compressed; 16–20.5 mm long; 2.2–3 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 elliptic; 16–20.5 mm long; 1.2–1.3 length of upper glume; herbaceous; without keels; 5 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins with cross-veins. Lower glume surface scabrous; rough above; inner surface pubescent. Lower glume apex attenuate; awned; 1 -awned. Lower glume awn 1–6 mm long. Upper glume elliptic; 12.6–17.7 mm long; 1.5–1.9 length of adjacent fertile lemma; herbaceous; without keels; 5 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins with cross-veins. Upper glume surface scabrous; rough above; inner surface pubescent. Upper glume apex attenuate; awned; 1 -awned. Upper glume awn 1–4 mm long.

FLORETS Fertile florets female. Fertile lemma lanceolate; dorsally compressed; 8.4–9.2 mm long; indurate; pallid; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma surface pitted; glabrous. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex acute; without ornament. Palea indurate; without keels.

FLOWER Lodicules 3. Anthers 3. Stigmas 2.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; fusiform; 6.2 mm long; light brown. Hilum linear; 1 length of caryopsis. Disseminule comprising a floret.

MALE Male spikelets distinct from female; 1 flowered; lanceolate; 10.4–14.1 mm long; glabrous. Male spikelet glumes absent. Male spikelet lemma 3 -veined; awned; with 1 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.