Xyris tenella

<<<<Scapes>Spikes>Bracts>Empty bracts>Bract number

few1

1. 003-004-003-004-001

<<<<Scapes>Spikes>Bracts>Floral bracts>Bract number

few2

2. 003-004-003-005-001

<<<<Scapes>Spikes>Bracts>Floral bracts>Length

5-5.5 mm3

3. 003-004-003-005-003

<<<<Scapes>Spikes>Bracts>Floral bracts>Shape

lanceolate4

4. 003-004-003-005-002

<<<Scapes>Spikes>Bracts>Bract number

few to several5

5. 003-004-003-001

<<<Scapes>Spikes>Bracts>Colour

brown to tan6

6. 003-004-003-002

<<<Scapes>Spikes>Bracts>Empty bracts

empty bracts , subdecussate, smaller than and grading to flowering bracts7

7. 003-004-003-004

<<<Scapes>Spikes>Bracts>Floral bracts

these , , navicular, , subentire, keeled from middle up8

8. 003-004-003-005

<<<Scapes>Spikes>Bracts>Shape

some or all with prominent but streak-like dorsal area9

9. 003-004-003-003

<<Capsules>Seeds>Colour

deep amber10

10. 005-004-003

<<Capsules>Seeds>Length

ca. 0.5 mm11

11. 005-004-002

<<Capsules>Seeds>Shape

ovoid to ellipsoid12

12. 005-004-001

<<Capsules>Valves>Septa

eseptate13

13. 005-003-001

<<Leaves>Blade>Shape

somewhat to very flattened14

14. 002-004-001

<<Leaves>Blade>Width

0.5-2 mm wide15

15. 002-004-002

<<Leaves>Margins>Hairs

ciliolate16

16. 002-005-002

<<Leaves>Margins>Texture

smooth17

17. 002-005-001

<<Leaves>Sheaths>Hairs

long-ciliate at base18

18. 002-003-001

<<Scapes>Ribs>Texture

smooth to finely scabro-ciliolate19

19. 003-003-001

<<Scapes>Shape>Thickness

0.3-0.5 mm thick20

20. 003-001-001

<<Scapes>Spikes>Bracts

bracts , thin, , , , .21

21. 003-004-003

<<Scapes>Spikes>Length

5-7 mm22

22. 003-004-002

<<Scapes>Spikes>Shape

ellipsoid to lance-ovoid becoming obovoid-turbinate23

23. 003-004-001

<<Sepals>Anthers>Length

ca. 1 mm24

24. 004-005-001

<<Sepals>Keel>Hairs

ciliolate25

25. 004-002-002

<<Sepals>Keel>Texture

papillose26

26. 004-002-001

<<Sepals>Petals>Length

ca. 3 mm27

27. 004-003-002

<<Sepals>Petals>Shape

obovate28

28. 004-003-001

<<Sepals>Shape>Length

ca. 5 mm long29

29. 004-001-001

<<Sepals>Staminodes>Shape

reduced, often beardless30

30. 004-004-001

<Capsules>Length

ca. 3 mm31

31. 005-001

<Capsules>Placentation

placentation basal32

32. 005-002

<Capsules>Seeds

seeds , , .33

33. 005-004

<Capsules>Valves

valves ;34

34. 005-003

<Habit>Height

5-20 cm high35

35. 001-002

<Habit>Stems

stems short36

36. 001-003

<Habit>Texture

mostly smooth37

37. 001-001

<Leaves>Blade

blade , ,38

38. 002-004

<Leaves>Growth form

erect or in fans39

39. 002-001

<Leaves>Length

2-8 cm40

40. 002-002

<Leaves>Margins

margins or .41

41. 002-005

<Leaves>Sheaths

sheath soft, scarious, keeled, , eligulate42

42. 002-003

<Scapes>Rib number

sometimes 1-3-ribbed43

43. 003-002

<Scapes>Ribs

ribs44

44. 003-003

<Scapes>Shape

filiform, distally terete, , finely striate45

45. 003-001

<Scapes>Spikes

spikes , ,46

46. 003-004

<Sepals>Anthers

anthers .47

47. 004-005

<Sepals>Keel

the firm keel entire to , or48

48. 004-002

<Sepals>Petals

petals , ;49

49. 004-003

<Sepals>Shape

lanciform, , subequilateral, acute50

50. 004-001

<Sepals>Staminodes

staminodes ;51

51. 004-004

Capsules

Capsule , ,52

52. 005

Description

Cespitose, low, delicate, mostly smooth, annual or short-lived perennial, 5-20 cm high, stems short. Leaves erect or in fans, 2-8 cm, sheath soft, scarious, keeled, long-ciliate at base, eligulate, blade somewhat to very flattened, 0.5-2 mm wide, margins smooth or ciliolate. Scapes filiform, distally terete, 0.3-0.5 mm thick, finely striate, sometimes 1-3-ribbed, ribs smooth to finely scabro-ciliolate; spikes ellipsoid to lance-ovoid becoming obovoid-turbinate, 5-7 mm, bracts few to several, thin, brown to tan, some or all with prominent but streak-like dorsal area, empty bracts few, subdecussate, smaller than and grading to flowering bracts, these few, lanceolate, navicular, 5-5.5 mm, subentire, keeled from middle up. Sepals lanciform, ca. 5 mm long, subequilateral, acute, the firm keel entire to papillose, or ciliolate; petals obovate, ca. 3 mm; staminodes reduced, often beardless; anthers ca. 1 mm. Capsule ca. 3 mm, placentation basal, valves eseptate; seeds ovoid to ellipsoid, ca. 0.5 mm, deep amber.

Distribution

Amazonian Brazil present, Guianas present, Planalto present, S Venezuela present, Southern America: Bolivia (Bolivia present); Paraguay (Paraguay present)

S Venezuela E across the Guianas, S into Amazonian Brazil and through the Planalto into Paraguay, Bolivia.

Habit

Cespitose, low, delicate, , annual or short-lived perennial, , .53

53. 001

Leaves

Leaves , , ,54

54. 002

Scapes

Scapes , , ;55

55. 003

Sepals

Sepals , ;56

56. 004

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