Poaceae
Raddia

Raddia brasiliensis Bertol.

First published in Opusc. Sci. 3: 410 (1819)
This species is accepted
The native range of this species is Central & E. Brazil. It is a herbaceous bamboo and grows primarily in the seasonally dry tropical biome.

Descriptions

Morphology General Habit
Perennial. Culms 30-60 cm long. Leaves cauline. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blade base broadly rounded; with a brief petiole-like connection to sheath. Leaf-blades oblong; 4-12 cm long; 9-25 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; 1-3 cm long; bearing few fertile spikelets; bearing 4-8 fertile spikelets on each. Rhachis angular. Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Male spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels filiform (male), or cuneate (female). Male inflorescence terminal; unlike female; a panicle (4-6cm). Male spikelets distinct from female; 1 flowered; separately deciduous; linear; 5 mm long; glabrous. Male spikelet glumes absent. Male spikelet lemma 3 -veined; awned (1mm).
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Spikelets
Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets ovate; dorsally compressed; 4 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.
Fertile
Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets ovate; dorsally compressed; 4 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts Glume
Glumes deciduous; similar; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 4 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; chartaceous; without keels; 5 -veined. Lower glume surface pubescent. Lower glume apex acuminate; awned; 1 -awned. Lower glume awn 2 mm long. Upper glume ovate; 4 mm long; 1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; chartaceous; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Florets
Fertile florets female. Fertile lemma ovate; 3.5-4 mm long; coriaceous; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea coriaceous; 2 -veined. Palea surface pubescent; hairy on back.
sex Male
Male inflorescence terminal; unlike female; a panicle (4-6cm). Male spikelets distinct from female; 1 flowered; separately deciduous; linear; 5 mm long; glabrous. Male spikelet glumes absent. Male spikelet lemma 3 -veined; awned (1mm).
Distribution
South America: Brazil.
Reference
Olyreae. WDC.
Diagnostic
Several female inflorescences per node.
[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