Steinchisma decipiens

HABIT Perennial. Rhizomes short. Culms erect; 30–90 cm long. Ligule a ciliolate membrane. Leaf-blades flat, or conduplicate; 6–16 cm long; 2–6 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous, or pubescent; hairy adaxially. Leaf-blade apex acute, or acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle contracted; linear; interrupted; 4–16 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic, or oblong; laterally compressed; acute; 1.7–2.5 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes dissimilar; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 0.33–0.5 length of spikelet; membranous; purple; without keels; 3 -veined. Lower glume apex obtuse. Upper glume lanceolate, or elliptic; 0.66 length of spikelet; membranous; purple; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins ribbed. Upper glume apex obtuse.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets male; with palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; oblong; 0.75 length of spikelet; membranous; 5 -veined; obtuse. Palea of lower sterile floret becoming indurate on flanks at maturity; 1.2 length of lemma. Fertile lemma elliptic; 1.5–2.3 mm long; coriaceous; without keel. Lemma surface papillose. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex acute. Palea coriaceous; without keels.

DISTRIBUTION South America: northern South America, western South America, Brazil, and southern South America.

NOTES Paniceae. Gr Bahia.

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