GrassBase - The Online World Grass Flora

Descriptions

W.D. Clayton, M. Vorontsova, K.T. Harman & H. Williamson

© Copyright The Board of Trustees, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Raddiella esenbeckii

HABIT Perennial; mat forming. Culms prostrate; 6–30 cm long (long). Culm-nodes pubescent. Leaves cauline. Ligule absent. Leaf-blade base broadly rounded; with a brief petiole-like connection to sheath. Leaf-blades ovate; 0.7–2.1 cm long; 5–9 mm wide; coriaceous. Leaf-blade apex obtuse; apiculate.

INFLORESCENCE Monoecious; with male and female spikelets in different inflorescences. Inflorescence comprising only a few spikelets; comprising 2–3 fertile spikelets; axillary; embraced at base by subtending leaf.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Male spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels oblong; tip cupuliform.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; dorsally compressed; 2 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Spikelet callus square; incorporating lowest rhachilla internode with adnate lower glume; 0.2 mm long. Rhachilla internodes elongated between glumes.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 2 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; herbaceous; without keels; 3 -veined. Lower glume surface pubescent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 2 mm long; 1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; herbaceous; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume surface pubescent. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile florets female. Fertile lemma ovate; 2 mm long; indurate; shiny; without keel. Lemma surface smooth. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea 1 length of lemma; indurate.

MALE Male inflorescence terminal; unlike female; a panicle. Male spikelets distinct from female; 1 flowered; separately deciduous; lanceolate; 3–4 mm long; glabrous, or hairy. Male spikelet glumes absent. Male spikelet lemma 3 -veined; muticous.

DISTRIBUTION South America: Mesoamericana, Caribbean, northern South America, western South America, and Brazil.

NOTES Olyreae. WDC.

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