Steyermarkochloa

HABIT Perennial. Culms erect; 40–350 cm long. Ligule absent.

INFLORESCENCE Monoecious; with male and female spikelets in the same inflorescence. Synflorescence on a separate leafless culm. Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle spiciform.

Sexes segregated; with male below. Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Male spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels oblong.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets lanceolate; dorsally compressed; 9–17 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 1–1.3 length of upper glume; herbaceous; 2-keeled; 3–7 -veined. Lower glume surface flat; without pits. Lower glume apex truncate, or obtuse. Upper glume lanceolate; 0.33 length of adjacent fertile lemma; herbaceous; without keels; 3–6 -veined. Upper glume apex truncate, or obtuse.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret lanceolate; herbaceous; 5–9 -veined; ribbed; obtuse. Fertile florets female. Fertile lemma lanceolate; herbaceous; without keel; wingless; 5–13 -veined. Lemma lateral veins ribbed. Lemma surface unwrinkled; without grooves. Lemma apex truncate, or obtuse. Palea tightly convolute around flower; 1.3–1.5 length of lemma; spongy; 5–11 -veined. Palea keels approximate. Apical sterile florets 1 in number; barren; linear.

FLOWER Lodicules absent. Anthers 2. Stigmas 2.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; fusiform. Embryo 0.2 length of caryopsis. Hilum linear; 0.7 length of caryopsis.

MALE Male spikelets similar to female but less developed; lanceolate. Male spikelet glumes 2.

DISTRIBUTION South America.

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