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.

Raddiella malmeana

HABIT Annual; mat forming. Culms decumbent; 10–20 cm long; rooting from lower nodes. Leaf-sheaths longer than adjacent culm internode; glabrous on surface. Leaf-sheath oral hairs lacking. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.3 mm long. Leaf-blade base simple; symmetrical; with a brief petiole-like connection to sheath; petiole glabrous. Leaf-blades elliptic; 0.5–1 cm long; 2–4 mm wide; membranous. Leaf-blade surface pubescent; hairy abaxially, or on both sides. Leaf-blade margins scaberulous. Leaf-blade apex acute.

INFLORESCENCE Monoecious; with male and female spikelets in different inflorescences. Inflorescence comprising only a few spikelets; axillary; embraced at base by subtending leaf.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Male spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets ovate; dorsally compressed; 1.8–2.1 mm long; 0.5–0.6 mm wide; falling entire. Spikelet callus square; incorporating lowest rhachilla internode with adnate lower glume; 0.2 mm long. Rhachilla internodes elongated between glumes.

GLUMES Glumes similar; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume elliptic, or ovate; 1.8–2.1 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Lower glume surface pilose. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume elliptic, or ovate; 1.8–2.1 mm long; 1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 3–5 -veined. Upper glume surface pilose. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile florets female. Fertile lemma ovate; 1.5 mm long; indurate; pallid; shiny; without keel. Lemma surface smooth. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex acute. Palea 1 length of lemma; indurate.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 1 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

MALE Male inflorescence terminal; unlike female; of few spikelets. Male spikelets distinct from female; 1 flowered; separately deciduous; lanceolate; 1.7–2 mm long; glabrous. Male spikelet glumes absent. Male spikelet lemma 3 -veined; muticous.

DISTRIBUTION South America: Brazil.

NOTES Olyreae. Zul & Jud 1992.

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