Cortaderia planifolia

HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped densely. Culms 25–40 cm long. Lateral branches lacking. Leaves mostly basal. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades 5–12 cm long; 3–6 mm wide; stiff. Leaf-blade surface glabrous. Leaf-blade apex pungent.

INFLORESCENCE Gynodioecious ("male", in this context, indicating the bisexual state). Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle spiciform; oblong, or ovate; 5–7 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 3–4 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets cuneate; laterally compressed; 23–25 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus evident; bearded.

GLUMES Glumes similar; exceeding apex of florets; similar to fertile lemma in texture; gaping. Lower glume lanceolate; 23–25 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 23–25 mm long; 1.5–1.6 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile florets female. Fertile lemma ovate; 14–16 mm long; membranous; without keel. Lemma surface villous. Lemma apex lobed; 2 -fid; with filiform lobes; incised 0.5 of lemma length; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn from a sinus; 13–15 mm long overall. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; cuneate; fleshy. Anthers 3.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

MALE Male inflorescence bisexual, similar to female.

DISTRIBUTION South America: western South America.

NOTES Arundineae. Gr Peru 1997.

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