GrassBase - The Online World Grass Flora

Descriptions

W.D. Clayton, M. Vorontsova, K.T. Harman & H. Williamson

© Copyright The Board of Trustees, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Alvimia auriculata

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Rhizomes short; pachymorph. Culms scandent; 2000–2500 cm long; 5–10 mm diam.; woody. Culm-internodes terete; solid; 40–83 cm long; distally pubescent. Lateral branches dendroid. Bud complement 1. Branch complement many; in a clump; subtended by a bare patch above the node; with 1 branch dominant. Culm-sheaths deciduous but leaving a persistent girdle; glabrous, or pubescent; auriculate; setose on shoulders. Culm-sheath ligule 0.5 mm high; ciliate. Culm-sheath blade lanceolate, or ovate; erect; 7.5–19.2 cm long; pubescent. Leaves cauline; 16 per branch. Leaf-sheath oral hairs setose. Leaf-sheath auricles falcate. Ligule a ciliolate membrane; 0.2–0.5 mm long; scarious. Collar with external ligule. Leaf-blade base asymmetrical; with a brief petiole-like connection to sheath. Leaf-blades deciduous at the ligule; oblong; 16–21 cm long; 15–30 mm wide. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Synflorescence bractiferous; fasciculate; 10–20 cm long; with glumaceous subtending bracts; without axillary buds at base of spikelet; prophyllate below lateral spikelets.

Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 3–30 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets linear; subterete; 9–29 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes definite; clavate.

GLUMES Glumes one the lower absent or obscure; persistent; shorter than spikelet; similar to fertile lemma in texture. Upper glume lanceolate; 5–7 mm long; 0.6–0.8 length of adjacent fertile lemma; chartaceous; without keels; 5 -veined. Upper glume surface hispidulous. Upper glume margins ciliate. Upper glume apex obtuse.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; 8–9 mm long; chartaceous; without keel; 5–6 -veined. Lemma surface puberulous. Lemma margins ciliolate. Lemma apex acuminate. Palea 1 length of lemma; chartaceous. Palea surface pubescent; hairy on back. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 3; 2 mm long; veined; ciliate. Anthers 2; 5 mm long. Stigmas 2. Ovary glabrous.

FRUIT Caryopsis with fleshy pericarp; obovoid; 2 mm long. Endosperm farinose.

DISTRIBUTION South America: Brazil.

NOTES Bambuseae. WDC.

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