Parodiolyra ramosissima

HABIT Perennial. Culms geniculately ascending, or scandent; 30–150 cm long. Culm-internodes hollow; distally glabrous. Culm-nodes swollen; glabrous. Leaves cauline. Leaf-sheaths ribbed; pilose; with reflexed hairs; outer margin hairy. Ligule a ciliolate membrane; 0.3 mm long. Leaf-blade base broadly rounded; asymmetrical; with a brief petiole-like connection to sheath; petiole 0.2–0.3 cm long; petiole glabrous, or pubescent. Leaf-blades lanceolate; 3.6–13 cm long; 9–17 mm wide; stiff. Leaf-blade surface smooth, or scabrous. Leaf-blade margins scabrous. Leaf-blade apex abruptly acute; apiculate.

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

Panicle contracted; linear, or oblong; 3–8 cm long; 1–4 cm wide. Panicle branches pubescent in axils.

Sexes segregated; on unisexual branches and bisexual branches; with male below. Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Male spikelets pedicelled; 2 in a cluster. Pedicels (female) filiform; tip rectangular.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; dorsally compressed; 5–5.8 mm long; 1.9–2.8 mm wide; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes elongated between glumes and elongated below proximal fertile floret. Rhachilla elongation 0.3 mm long (below floret).

GLUMES Glumes similar; subequal in width; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume elliptic; 4.1–5.1 mm long; 1.1 length of upper glume; chartaceous; without keels; 7–9 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins with cross-veins. Lower glume surface scabrous. Lower glume apex obtuse, or acute. Upper glume elliptic; 3.9–4.6 mm long; chartaceous; without keels; 5–7 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins with cross-veins. Upper glume surface scabrous. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile florets female. Fertile lemma elliptic; dorsally compressed; 3–3.5 mm long; indurate; pallid, or dark green; shiny; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma surface smooth; glabrous. Lemma apex acute; with a shallow excavation and papillose. Palea obovate; indurate; 2 -veined; without keels. Palea surface smooth. Palea apex excavated.

FLOWER Lodicules 3. Anthers 3. Stigmas 2. Ovary with a few apical hairs.

FRUIT Caryopsis ellipsoid; 2–2.5 mm long; light brown. Hilum linear; 0.75 length of caryopsis.

MALE Male spikelets distinct from female; 1 flowered; lanceolate; 3.5–4.3 mm long; glabrous to hairy. Male spikelet glumes absent. Male spikelet lemma 3 -veined; muticous.

DISTRIBUTION South America: Brazil.

NOTES Olyreae. Sod & Zuol.

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