Pharus ecuadoricus

HABIT Perennial. Culms 80–100 cm long; 4–6 mm diam. Lateral branches lacking. Leaves 5–8 per branch. Leaf-sheaths smooth; glabrous on surface. Ligule a ciliate membrane; 0.7–1.3 mm long. Leaf-blade base cuneate; with a false petiole; petiole 1.2–1.3 cm long. Leaf-blades inverted; oblong; 25–38 cm long; 50–75 mm wide; dark green and light green; discolorous with last colour beneath. Leaf-blade venation slanting obliquely from midrib; with distinct cross veins. Leaf-blade surface scabrous; rough abaxially. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Monoecious; with male and female spikelets in the same inflorescence. Inflorescence a panicle; without bracts, or bracteate at pedicel base (bract 0.5–5mm). Peduncle 13–25 cm long.

Panicle open; ovate; 25–50 cm long; contracted about primary branches. Primary panicle branches 4–6 in number; spreading; simple. Panicle axis bearing deciduous branches. Panicle branches stiff; pubescent.

Sexes mixed. Spikelets appressed; in pairs. Fertile spikelets sessile; 1 in the cluster. Male spikelets pedicelled; 1 in a cluster. Pedicels filiform; 6–10 mm long.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; straight; subterete; 11.5–13.5 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume elliptic; 6–7.5 mm long; 0.8–0.9 length of upper glume; scarious; light brown; without keels; 5–7 -veined. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume elliptic; 6.5–8 mm long; 0.6 length of adjacent fertile lemma; scarious; light brown; without keels; 5–7 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile florets female. Fertile lemma elliptic; subterete; 11.5–13.5 mm long; 2–3 mm wide; coriaceous; light brown; without keel; 7 -veined. Lemma lateral veins obscure. Lemma surface pubescent; hairy all along; with hooked hairs. Lemma margins involute; interlocking with palea keels. Lemma apex acute; with a conical beak. Palea linear; 1 length of lemma; 2 -veined.

FLOWER Lodicules absent. Anthers 6; 1.2–2.1 mm long. Stigmas 3.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; linear; isodiametric; stipitate; 9–10 mm long.

MALE Male spikelets similar to female but less developed; 1 flowered; separately deciduous; ovate; 3.2–4.3 mm long. Male spikelet glumes 2; 2.3–4.1 mm long; membranous; 2–5 -veined; muticous. Male spikelet lemma 3.2–4.3 mm long; 3 -veined; with cross-veins; muticous.

DISTRIBUTION South America: western South America.

NOTES Phareae. Jud. 2001.

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