Streptostachys acuminata

HABIT Perennial. Rhizomes elongated. Culms erect; robust; 180–200 cm long. Culm-internodes terete. Culm-nodes pallid. Ligule a fringe of hairs, or absent. Leaf-blade base cordate. Leaf-blades linear; 27–35 cm long; 15 mm wide. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; 25 cm long. Primary panicle branches simple; 10–15 cm long. Panicle branches stiff.

Spikelets in pairs. Fertile spikelets sessile and pedicelled. Pedicels linear; ciliate; hairy all along but hairs longer above; tip discoid.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic, or ovate; dorsally compressed; 6 mm long; falling entire. Spikelet callus square. Rhachilla internodes elongated between glumes.

GLUMES Glumes dissimilar; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; clasping; 0.33–0.5 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 5 -veined. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume elliptic; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 7 -veined. Upper glume surface puberulous; hairy at apex.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets male; with palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; elliptic; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 5 -veined; puberulous; hairy at apex. Palea of lower sterile floret hyaline. Fertile lemma elliptic; 6 mm long; indurate; without keel. Lemma surface smooth, or scaberulous; rough above. Lemma margins involute. Palea 1 length of lemma; indurate; without keels. Palea surface scaberulous.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION South America: Brazil.

NOTES Paniceae. Gr Bahia 1997.

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