Raddia megaphylla

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Rhizomes short. Culms erect; 40–65 cm long; 0.4–1 mm diam. Culm-internodes distally glabrous. Culm-nodes brown; pubescent. Lateral branches lacking. Leaves cauline; 1–2 per branch. Leaf-sheaths pilose. Ligule a ciliolate membrane; 0.2–0.4 mm long. Leaf-blade base asymmetrical; with a brief petiole-like connection to sheath; petiole (0.1–)0.15–0.33(–0.47) cm long; petiole pubescent. Leaf-blades lanceolate, or ovate; (7.2–)9–24.5 cm long; (20–)31–58 mm wide. Leaf-blade midrib conspicuous. Leaf-blade surface glabrous, or hirsute; hairy abaxially. Leaf-blade apex acute; asymmetrical.

INFLORESCENCE Monoecious; with male and female spikelets in different inflorescences. Inflorescence a panicle; comprising (5–)11–31(–42) fertile spikelets; axillary; with 1–3 peduncles per sheath. Peduncle (1–)7.8–15 cm long.

Panicle open; ovate; (1.4–)2.4–5(–5.5) cm long; (0.4–)2–3.5 cm wide. Panicle axis pubescent.

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

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate, or ovate; dorsally compressed; (4–)5–9.2 mm long; (1–)1.4–2.2 mm wide; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes deciduous; similar; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate, or ovate; 4–10 mm long; chartaceous; much thinner on margins; without keels; 3–5 -veined. Lower glume apex acuminate; mucronate, or awned; 1 -awned. Lower glume awn 0.7–5 mm long. Upper glume lanceolate, or ovate; 4–10 mm long; chartaceous; with cartilaginous margins; without keels; 3–5 -veined. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile florets female. Fertile lemma lanceolate; (3.2–)4.5–5.1 mm long; (0.8–)1–1.9 mm wide; coriaceous; without keel. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea coriaceous.

FLOWER Lodicules 3. Anthers 3.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; 3 mm long; light brown. Hilum linear; 1 length of caryopsis.

MALE Male inflorescence terminal; unlike female; a panicle (3–9cm). Male spikelets distinct from female; 1 flowered; separately deciduous; lanceolate; 3.5–5.2 mm long; glabrous. Male spikelet glumes absent. Male spikelet lemma 3 -veined; awned; with 0.5–0.7 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.