Scutachne dura

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect; 40–70 cm long. Culm-nodes glabrous, or pubescent. Leaves basal and cauline. Ligule a ciliolate membrane. Leaf-blades 5–30 cm long; 4–6 mm wide; coriaceous; stiff. Leaf-blade surface ribbed. Leaf-blade margins cartilaginous; spinulose. Leaf-blade apex acuminate; pungent.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; 6–10 cm long; contracted about primary branches. Panicle branches stiff; straight.

Spikelets solitary, or in pairs. Fertile spikelets pedicelled; 1–2 in the cluster. Pedicels filiform, or oblong; unequal; pubescent.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; dorsally compressed; acuminate; 4–5 mm long; falling entire. Spikelet callus square; incorporating lowest rhachilla internode with adnate lower glume; 0.5 mm long; base obtuse. Rhachilla internodes elongated between glumes.

GLUMES Glumes dissimilar; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume oblong; 0.5 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 5 -veined. Lower glume surface glabrous, or pubescent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; coriaceous; dark brown; without keels; 5 -veined. Upper glume surface pubescent. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets male; with palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; ovate; coriaceous; 5 -veined; pubescent; acuminate. Fertile lemma elliptic; 3.5–4.5 mm long; indurate; without keel. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex rostrate; pubescent. Palea 1 length of lemma; indurate; 2 -veined. Palea apex acuminate.

DISTRIBUTION South America: Caribbean.

NOTES Paniceae. WDC.

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