Raddiella kaieteurana

HABIT Annual; mat forming. Culms rambling; weak; 5(–20) cm long; rooting from lower nodes. Leaf-sheaths longer than adjacent culm internode; striately veined; glabrous on surface, or pilose. Leaf-sheath oral hairs ciliate. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.3–0.5 mm long. Leaf-blade base broadly rounded; asymmetrical; with a brief petiole-like connection to sheath; petiole pubescent. Leaf-blades lanceolate; 0.8–1 cm long; 3–8 mm wide; membranous. Leaf-blade surface pilose; hairy on both sides. Leaf-blade margins ciliate; hairy all along, or at base. Leaf-blade apex acute; apiculate.

INFLORESCENCE Monoecious; with male and female spikelets in different inflorescences. Inflorescence comprising only a few spikelets; comprising 1–3 fertile spikelets; axillary; exserted, or embraced at base by subtending leaf. Peduncle 0.5–1 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Male spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels 1.5–5 mm long.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; dorsally compressed; 1.4–2 mm long; 0.6–0.8 mm wide; falling entire. Spikelet callus square; incorporating lowest rhachilla internode with adnate lower glume; 0.2 mm long. Rhachilla internodes elongated between glumes.

GLUMES Glumes similar; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume elliptic, or ovate; 1.4–2 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Lower glume surface glabrous, or pilose. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume elliptic, or ovate; 1.4–2 mm long; 1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 3–5 -veined. Upper glume surface glabrous, or pilose. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile florets female. Fertile lemma elliptic; 0.8–1.7 mm long; indurate; pallid, or light brown; without keel; 3–5 -veined. Lemma surface papillose. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex acute. Palea 1 length of lemma; indurate.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 2–2.8 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; ellipsoid; 4–5.8 mm long. Embryo 0.2 length of caryopsis. Hilum elliptic.

MALE Male inflorescence terminal; unlike female; of few spikelets (1–2 spikelets). Male spikelets distinct from female; 1 flowered; separately deciduous; lanceolate; 4–5.8 mm long; hairy. Male spikelet glumes absent, or 2 (rarely). Male spikelet lemma 3 -veined; muticous.

DISTRIBUTION South America: northern South America.

NOTES Olyreae. Zul & Jud 1992.

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