Poaceae
Raddia

Raddia guianensis (Brongn.) Hitchc.

First published in Misc. Publ. U.S.D.A. 243: 373 (1936)
This species is accepted
The native range of this species is Trinidad to N. & NE. Brazil. It is a herbaceous bamboo and grows primarily in the wet tropical biome.

Descriptions

Morphology General Habit
Perennial; caespitose. Culms geniculately ascending; 20-45 cm long; wiry. Leaves cauline; 12-24 per branch; distichous. Leaf-sheaths longer than adjacent culm internode. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blade base broadly rounded; with a brief petiole-like connection to sheath; petiole pubescent. Leaf-blades spreading; oblong; 2-3.5 cm long; 4-8 mm wide. Leaf-blade apex obtuse; apiculate.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Monoecious; with male and female spikelets in different inflorescences. Inflorescence composed of racemes; axillary; embraced at base by subtending leaf. Racemes 1; single; bearing few fertile spikelets; bearing 2-5 fertile spikelets on each. Rhachis angular. Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Male spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels filiform (male), or cuneate (female). Male inflorescence axillary; unlike female; of few spikelets (5-8). Male spikelets distinct from female; 1 flowered; separately deciduous; linear, or lanceolate; 5-6 mm long; glabrous. Male spikelet glumes absent. Male spikelet lemma 3 -veined.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Spikelets
Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; dorsally compressed; 8 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.
Fertile
Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; dorsally compressed; 8 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts Glume
Glumes deciduous; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 8 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; chartaceous; firmer on margins; without keels; 5 -veined. Lower glume surface glabrous. Lower glume apex setaceously attenuate. Upper glume ovate; 8 mm long; 1.6 length of adjacent fertile lemma; chartaceous; with cartilaginous margins; without keels; 5 -veined. Upper glume apex setaceously attenuate.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Florets
Fertile florets female. Fertile lemma lanceolate; 5 mm long; coriaceous; without keel; 3 -veined. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex acuminate. Palea coriaceous; 2 -veined.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
Lodicules 3. Anthers 3.
sex Male
Male inflorescence axillary; unlike female; of few spikelets (5-8). Male spikelets distinct from female; 1 flowered; separately deciduous; linear, or lanceolate; 5-6 mm long; glabrous. Male spikelet glumes absent. Male spikelet lemma 3 -veined.
Distribution
South America: Caribbean, northern South America, and Brazil.
Reference
Olyreae. WDC.
[GB]

Sources

  • GrassBase - The Online World Grass Flora

    • Clayton, W.D., Vorontsova, M.S., Harman, K.T. and Williamson, H. (2006 onwards). GrassBase - The Online World Grass Flora.
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Herbarium Catalogue Specimens

    • Digital Image © Board of Trustees, RBG Kew http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

  • Kew Backbone Distributions

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2023. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2022 World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

  • Kew Names and Taxonomic Backbone

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2023. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2022 International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0