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Descriptions

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

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

Melica brasiliana

HABIT Perennial. Rhizomes elongated. Culms 30–60 cm long. Culm-internodes scaberulous. Leaf-sheaths tubular for much of their length; with 1 of their length closed; glabrous on surface, or pubescent. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 2–8 mm long. Leaf-blades lanceolate; 3–17 cm long; 3.5–9 mm wide; stiff. Leaf-blade margins scabrous (retrorsely); ciliate. Leaf-blade apex retrorsely scabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; oblong; 8–22 cm long; 2 cm wide. Primary panicle branches appressed; 1–2 -nate; simple. Panicle branches scaberulous.

Spikelets spreading, or pendulous; solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels filiform; curved; ciliate.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising (1–)2(–3) fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets obovate; dorsally compressed; 11–17 mm long; falling entire. Rhachilla internodes smooth. Floret callus pubescent.

GLUMES Glumes dissimilar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume obovate; 11–17 mm long; 1.3 length of upper glume; chartaceous; much thinner on margins; without keels; 7–9 -veined. Lower glume apex obtuse. Upper glume lanceolate; 8.5–13 mm long; 1.2–1.3 length of adjacent fertile lemma; chartaceous; with hyaline margins; purple; without keels; 5–7(–9) -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic; 7–10 mm long; chartaceous; much thinner above; much thinner on margins; without keel; 9 -veined. Lemma lateral veins ribbed. Lemma surface scaberulous; rough on veins; pilose; hairy on veins. Lemma hairs 0.7–1.2 mm long. Lemma apex dentate; 2 -fid; obtuse. Palea 0.6–0.7 length of lemma; 2 -veined. Palea keels ciliolate. Apical sterile florets 3–4 in number; barren; in a clump; elliptic; 4 mm long.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; united; oblong; 0.4 mm long; fleshy; truncate. Anthers 3; 2 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; ellipsoid; 3–3.5 mm long; dark brown. Embryo 0.2–0.25 length of caryopsis. Hilum linear.

DISTRIBUTION South America: Brazil and southern South America.

NOTES Meliceae. WDC.

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