Streptostachys lanciflora

HABIT Perennial. Rhizomes short. Butt sheaths persistent and investing base of culm; with compacted dead sheaths. Culms 40–65 cm long; without nodal roots, or rooting from lower nodes. Culm-internodes elliptical in section; 0.7–15 cm long; distally pilose. Culm-nodes pubescent. Leaf-sheaths mostly shorter than adjacent culm internode; pilose, or hirsute. Ligule a fringe of hairs; 0.2–0.4 mm long. Collar pilose. Leaf-blade base cordate, or amplexicaul. Leaf-blades lanceolate; 3–6.5 cm long; 4–7 mm wide. Leaf-blade midrib indistinct. Leaf-blade surface hirsute; hairy on both sides. Leaf-blade apex acute.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; linear; 4–20 cm long; contracted about primary branches. Primary panicle branches ascending; indistinct the panicle almost racemose.

Spikelets in pairs. Fertile spikelets pedicelled; 2 in the cluster. Pedicels clavate; unequal; scaberulous.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; with truncate base; dorsally compressed; 6–8 mm long; 1–2 mm wide; falling entire. Spikelet callus toroidal; incorporating lowest rhachilla internode with adnate lower glume and supplemented by thickened base of upper glume. Rhachilla internodes elongated between glumes and elongated below basal sterile floret. Rhachilla elongation stout.

GLUMES Glumes dissimilar; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 6.2–7.1 mm long; 0.9 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 3–5 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins without connecting veins. Lower glume surface pilose. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 6–7.8 mm long; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 5–7 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins parallel at apex. Upper glume surface pilose. Upper glume apex acute, or acuminate.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets male, or barren; with palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to fertile lemma; ovate; 6–8 mm long; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 5–7 -veined; without cross-veins; pilose; acute. Fertile lemma ovate; 4.7–5.8 mm long; indurate; shiny; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma surface papillose. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex pubescent. Palea indurate; without keels.

FLOWER Lodicules 2.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; oblong; 3 mm long. Hilum linear; 1 length of caryopsis.

DISTRIBUTION South America: Brazil.

NOTES Paniceae. Oliviera & Longhi-W 2007.

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