Olyra wurdackii

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect; 100–400 cm long; woody. Culm-internodes hollow; distally pubescent. Culm-nodes swollen; pubescent. Leaves cauline. Leaf-sheaths pubescent. Leaf-sheath auricles erect. Ligule an eciliate membrane, or a ciliolate membrane; 4–8 mm long; brown. Leaf-blade base broadly rounded; symmetrical; with a brief petiole-like connection to sheath; petiole glabrous. Leaf-blades lanceolate; 26 cm long; 52 mm wide; glaucous. Leaf-blade venation parallel. Leaf-blade surface glabrous. Leaf-blade margins ciliate; hairy at base.

INFLORESCENCE Monoecious; with male and female spikelets in the same inflorescence. Inflorescence a panicle; terminal and axillary.

Panicle open; ovate; 15–30 cm long; 20–25 cm wide. Primary panicle branches ascending; whorled at lower nodes; bearing 2–5 fertile spikelets on each lower branch; bearing spikelets almost to the base. Panicle branches villous.

Sexes segregated; on bisexual branches; with male below. Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Male spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels (female) linear; angular; ciliate; tip widened.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; dorsally compressed; 7–7.5 mm long; 2.2–2.5 mm wide; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes elongated below proximal fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume elliptic; 7–7.5 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; herbaceous; without keels; 9 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins with cross-veins. Lower glume surface smooth, or scabrous; inner surface pilose. Lower glume apex acuminate; muticous. Upper glume elliptic; 7–7.5 mm long; 1.3–1.4 length of adjacent fertile lemma; herbaceous; without keels; 7–9 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins with cross-veins. Upper glume surface smooth to scabrous; inner surface pilose. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile florets female. Fertile lemma ovate; dorsally compressed; 5.5 mm long; indurate; pallid; shiny; without keel. Lemma surface smooth; glabrous. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex acute. Palea indurate; without keels. Palea surface pubescent; hairy on back; hairy above; with turgid hairs.

FLOWER Lodicules 3. Anthers 3; 4–4.3 mm long. Stigmas 2.

FRUIT Disseminule comprising a floret.

MALE Male spikelets distinct from female; 1 flowered; lanceolate; 8.9–11.5 mm long; glabrous. Male spikelet glumes absent. Male spikelet lemma 3 -veined; awned; with 2.5–4 mm long awn.

DISTRIBUTION South America: northern South America.

NOTES Olyreae. Sod & Zuol.

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