Streptostachys robusta

HABIT Perennial. Culms erect; robust; 180–200 cm long. Culm-nodes black. Ligule a fringe of hairs, or absent. Leaf-blade base with a brief petiole-like connection to sheath. Leaf-blades lanceolate; 23–38 cm long; 20–40 mm wide. Leaf-blade apex acute.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 10–15; borne along a central axis; in several whorls; straight; 14–24 cm long. Central inflorescence axis 10 cm long. Rhachis angular; scabrous on surface. Spikelet packing distant.

Spikelets in pairs. Fertile spikelets sessile and pedicelled. Pedicels 2–3 mm long; scabrous.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets ovate; dorsally compressed; 5–6 mm long; falling entire. Spikelet callus square.

GLUMES Glumes one the lower absent or obscure; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Upper glume ovate; 0.66–0.75 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 5 -veined. Upper glume surface puberulous.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets male; with palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; ovate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 7 -veined; puberulous. Palea of lower sterile floret hyaline. Fertile lemma elliptic; 5–6 mm long; indurate; without keel. Lemma margins involute. Palea 1 length of lemma; indurate; without keels.

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.