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 molliculma

HABIT Annual; mat forming. Culms rambling; 5–10 cm long. Culm-nodes pubescent. Leaf-sheaths mostly shorter than adjacent culm internode; puberulous; outer margin hairy. Leaf-sheath oral hairs ciliate. Ligule a ciliolate membrane. Leaf-blade base broadly rounded; asymmetrical; with a brief petiole-like connection to sheath; petiole pubescent. Leaf-blades lanceolate, or ovate; 0.7–1.2 cm long; 3–4.5 mm wide; membranous. Leaf-blade surface pubescent. Leaf-blade margins scaberulous. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Monoecious; with male and female spikelets in the same inflorescence. Inflorescence comprising only a few spikelets; comprising 1–2 fertile spikelets (and 1–2 male); terminal and axillary; exserted. Peduncle 5 cm long.

Sexes segregated; with male above. Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Male spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels 0.5–1 mm long.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; dorsally compressed; 1.3–1.5 mm long; 0.6–0.7 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; 1.3–1.5 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; 1.3–1.5 mm long; 1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume surface pilose. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile florets female. Fertile lemma elliptic; 1.3 mm long; indurate; pallid; shiny; without keel. Lemma surface papillose. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex acute. Palea 1 length of lemma; indurate.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 0.9–1.3 mm long; purple.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; ellipsoid; 0.8 mm long. Hilum elliptic.

MALE Male spikelets distinct from female; 1 flowered; separately deciduous; elliptic; 1.3–2.2 mm long; hairy. Male spikelet glumes absent. Male spikelet lemma 3 -veined; muticous.

DISTRIBUTION South America: western South America.

NOTES Olyreae. Zul & Jud 1992.

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