Reitzia smithii

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect, or decumbent; 15–30 cm long. Culm-nodes pubescent. Leaves cauline. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blade base broadly rounded; with a brief petiole-like connection to sheath. Leaf-blades lanceolate; 4–7.5 cm long; 12–20 mm wide. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Monoecious; with male and female spikelets in the same inflorescence. Inflorescence composed of racemes; embraced at base by subtending leaf.

Racemes 1; single; 1–3 cm long.

Sexes mixed. Spikelets in pairs. Fertile spikelets pedicelled; 1 in the cluster. Male spikelets sessile; 1 in a cluster. Pedicels cuneate; 1 mm long.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; dorsally compressed; 6 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes deciduous; similar; exceeding apex of florets; firmer than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 6 mm long; 1.1 length of upper glume; coriaceous; without keels; 3 -veined. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume ovate; 5.5 mm long; 1.3 length of adjacent fertile lemma; coriaceous; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile florets female. Fertile lemma oblong; 4 mm long; cartilaginous; pallid and purple (mottled); shiny; without keel; 3 -veined. Lemma margins involute; covering most of palea. Lemma apex acute. Palea cartilaginous; 2 -veined; without keels.

FLOWER Lodicules 3. Anthers 3; 1 mm long.

MALE Male spikelets distinct from female; 1 flowered; separately deciduous; lanceolate; 2.5–3 mm long. Male spikelet glumes absent. Male spikelet lemma 3 -veined; muticous.

DISTRIBUTION South America: Brazil.

NOTES Olyreae. WDC.

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