Sucrea sampaiana

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Roots bearing tubers. Cataphylls evident. Rhizomes short. Culms erect; 35 cm long; without nodal roots. Culm-internodes ridged. Culm-nodes constricted; pubescent. Leaves cauline; 2 per branch. Leaf-sheaths narrower than blade at the collar; ribbed; papillose. Ligule a ciliolate membrane; 1–2 mm long. Leaf-blade base broadly rounded; with a brief petiole-like connection to sheath. Leaf-blades ascending to drooping; lanceolate to oblong; 13–15 cm long; 4.5–5 mm wide. Leaf-blade venation with distinct cross veins.

INFLORESCENCE Monoecious; with male and female spikelets in the same inflorescence. Synflorescence on a specialized culm bearing a single leaf-blade, or on a separate leafless culm. Inflorescence a panicle. Peduncle pilose above.

Panicle spiciform; oblong; continuous, or interrupted; tapering above; 6 cm long; 1 cm wide. Primary panicle branches 0.9–1.2 cm long. Panicle branches hispid.

Sexes segregated; on unisexual branches; with male below. Spikelets solitary to in pairs. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Male spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels short.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets ovate; dorsally compressed; 1–7 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes deciduous; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma to similar to fertile lemma in texture. Lower glume elliptic to ovate; 6–7 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; firmer on margins (cartilaginous); without keels; 5 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins with cross-veins. Lower glume surface puberulous to pubescent. Lower glume margins ciliate. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume elliptic to ovate; 6–7 mm long; 1.1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; with cartilaginous margins; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins with cross-veins. Upper glume surface glabrous to pubescent. Upper glume margins eciliate to ciliate. Upper glume apex attenuate.

FLORETS Fertile florets bisexual. Fertile lemma elliptic; 5–6 mm long; herbaceous to indurate; pallid; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma lateral veins with cross-veins. Lemma margins covering most of palea; pubescent; hairy above. Palea 1 length of lemma; membranous, or indurate; 2 -veined; without keels.

FLOWER Lodicules 3; cuneate. Stigmas 2.

FRUIT Caryopsis 6 mm long; pitted (obscurely). Hilum linear.

MALE Male spikelets distinct from female; lanceolate to elliptic; 3–4 mm long; glabrous. Male spikelet glumes absent. Male spikelet lemma 3 -veined; muticous.

DISTRIBUTION South America: Brazil.

NOTES Olyreae. TB.

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