Zizaniopsis killipii

HABIT Annual. Culms 200 cm long; spongy. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 15 mm long. Leaf-blades 100 cm long; 35–50 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous. Leaf-blade margins scabrous. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Monoecious; with male and female spikelets in the same inflorescence. Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; oblong; 75 cm long; 30 cm wide. Primary panicle branches ascending; whorled at most nodes; 15–25 cm long. Panicle branches scabrous.

Sexes segregated; on bisexual branches; with male below. Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Male spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels tip rectangular.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets ovate; laterally compressed; 5–6 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes both absent or obscure.

FLORETS Fertile florets female. Fertile lemma ovate; 5–6 mm long; chartaceous; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma midvein scaberulous. Lemma apex acuminate; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn 4–6 mm long overall. Palea 1 length of lemma; chartaceous; without keels. Palea apex acuminate.

FRUIT Caryopsis with free brittle pericarp.

MALE Male spikelets distinct from female; 1 flowered; separately deciduous; lanceolate; 3.5 mm long. Male spikelet glumes absent. Male spikelet lemma 5 -veined; awned; with 1.5 mm long awn.

DISTRIBUTION South America: western South America.

NOTES Oryzeae. Hitchcock 1998.

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