Reynaudia filiformis

HABIT Perennial. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending; 15–40 cm long. Culm-nodes bearded. Leaves mostly basal. Ligule a ciliate membrane. Leaf-blades filiform; involute; 3–10 cm long; 1 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle contracted; linear, or oblong; 3–6 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels filiform; terete; glabrous.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 3–4 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes similar; reaching apex of florets; firmer than fertile lemma. Lower glume oblong; 2–2.5 mm long; 0.66 length of spikelet; membranous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Lower glume primary vein scaberulous. Lower glume lateral veins ribbed. Lower glume apex dentate; 2 -fid; awned; 1 -awned. Lower glume awn 4–7 mm long. Upper glume oblong; 3–4 mm long; membranous; 1-keeled; 5 -veined. Upper glume primary vein scaberulous. Upper glume lateral veins ribbed. Upper glume apex dentate; 2 -fid; awned; 1 -awned. Upper glume awn 5–9 mm long.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; oblong; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined; dentate; 2 -fid; awned. Awn of lower sterile floret 1 mm long. Fertile lemma elliptic; 3 mm long; hyaline; keeled; 1 -veined. Lemma apex acute. Palea absent or minute.

FLOWER Anthers 2.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; oblong; laterally compressed.

DISTRIBUTION South America: Caribbean.

NOTES Paniceae. WDC.

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