Raddia lancifolia

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Rhizomes elongated. Culms erect; (40–)45–85 cm long; 1.2–1.7 mm diam. Culm-internodes distally pilose. Culm-nodes green; glabrous. Lateral branches lacking. Leaves cauline; 4–11 per branch. Leaf-sheaths pilose. Ligule a ciliolate membrane; 0.8–1.3 mm long. Leaf-blade base symmetrical; with a brief petiole-like connection to sheath; petiole (0.08–)0.1–0.2 cm long; petiole pubescent. Leaf-blades lanceolate; 9.3–17.3 cm long; 12–21 mm wide. Leaf-blade midrib conspicuous. Leaf-blade surface scabrous; rough on both sides. Leaf-blade margins scabrous. Leaf-blade apex acute; asymmetrical and apiculate.

INFLORESCENCE Monoecious; with male and female spikelets in different inflorescences. Inflorescence composed of racemes; axillary; with 1–2 peduncles per sheath. Peduncle (2–)2.5–6.2(–8) cm long.

Racemes 1; single; 2–5 cm long; 3–6 mm wide; bearing few fertile spikelets; bearing 4–13 fertile spikelets on each. Rhachis angular; scabrous on surface.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Male spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels filiform (male), or cuneate (female); pubescent.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate, or ovate; dorsally compressed; (6–)7–13.5 mm long; 1–2(–3) mm wide; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes deciduous; similar; shorter than spikelet, or reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate, or ovate; 4–11.5(–13) mm long; chartaceous; much thinner on margins; without keels; 5–7 -veined. Lower glume apex acuminate; awned; 1 -awned. Lower glume awn (1–)3–7(–10) mm long. Upper glume lanceolate, or ovate; 4–11.5(–13) mm long; chartaceous; with cartilaginous margins; without keels; 5–7 -veined. Upper glume apex acute, or acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile florets female. Fertile lemma lanceolate; 4–5 mm long; (0.8–)1–2 mm wide; coriaceous; without keel. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea coriaceous.

FLOWER Anthers 3.

MALE Male inflorescence terminal and axillary; unlike female; a panicle (3,4–8cm). Male spikelets distinct from female; 1 flowered; separately deciduous; lanceolate; 5.5–7.8 mm long; hairy. Male spikelet glumes absent. Male spikelet lemma 3 -veined; awned; with 1.5–3 mm long awn.

DISTRIBUTION South America: Brazil.

NOTES Olyreae. Oliveira & L-Wagner 2009.

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