Xyris seubertii

<<<<<Scapes>Spikes>Bracts>Empty bracts>Shape>Relative dimensions

linear blade equalling or exceeding spike1

1. 003-003-004-001-002-001

<<<<<Scapes>Spikes>Bracts>Floral bracts>Hairs>Colour

red2

2. 003-003-004-002-002-001

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

5-6 mm3

3. 003-003-004-002-001-001

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

few4

4. 003-003-004-001-001

<<<<Scapes>Spikes>Bracts>Empty bracts>Shape

broadly rounded or the lowest 1 or 2 with dorsal area prolonged as a cusp or short, angulate,5

5. 003-003-004-001-002

<<<<Scapes>Spikes>Bracts>Floral bracts>Hairs

sometimes apically -villosulous6

6. 003-003-004-002-002

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

strongly convex, obovate, , rounded7

7. 003-003-004-002-001

<<<Lateral sepals>Keel>Hairs>Colour

reddish8

8. 004-003-001-001

<<<Leaves>Blade>Margins>Margin type

entire9

9. 002-004-003-001

<<<Leaves>Blade>Margins>Texture

to papillose, tuberculate or scabridulous-ciliolate10

10. 002-004-003-002

<<<Scapes>Spikes>Bracts>Empty bracts

empty ones ,11

11. 003-003-004-001

<<<Scapes>Spikes>Bracts>Floral bracts

flower bracts ,12

12. 003-003-004-002

<<Capsules>Seeds>Colour

amber13

13. 005-004-003

<<Capsules>Seeds>Length

0.3-0.5 mm14

14. 005-004-002

<<Capsules>Seeds>Shape

broadly ellipsoid to ovoid15

15. 005-004-001

<<Capsules>Valves>Septa

eseptate16

16. 005-003-001

<<Lateral sepals>Anthers>Length

2 mm17

17. 004-006-001

<<Lateral sepals>Keel>Hairs

increasingly densely -villous from middle to tip18

18. 004-003-001

<<Lateral sepals>Petals>Length

ca. 6-7 mm19

19. 004-004-002

<<Lateral sepals>Petals>Shape

obovate to reniform20

20. 004-004-001

<<Lateral sepals>Shape>Relative distance

1/5-1/321

21. 004-001-001

<<Lateral sepals>Staminodes>Shape

bearded22

22. 004-005-001

<<Leaves>Blade>Margins

margins thin, .23

23. 002-004-003

<<Leaves>Blade>Shape

strongly flattened24

24. 002-004-001

<<Leaves>Blade>Width

1.5-3.5 mm wide25

25. 002-004-002

<<Leaves>Sheaths>Colour

castaneous or dark brown, upwards pink or purplish26

26. 002-003-001

<<Leaves>Sheaths>Hairs

eciliate27

27. 002-003-002

<<Leaves>Sheaths>Ligula

eligulate or ligule short28

28. 002-003-003

<<Scapes>Shape>Rib number

1 or more29

29. 003-001-002

<<Scapes>Shape>Thickness

0.5-0.7 mm thick30

30. 003-001-001

<<Scapes>Spikes>Bracts

bracts in a spiral with distinct though narrow dorsal area, , .31

31. 003-003-004

<<Scapes>Spikes>Colour

pale brown32

32. 003-003-003

<<Scapes>Spikes>Length

0.8-1.2 cm33

33. 003-003-002

<<Scapes>Spikes>Shape

ovoid to broadly ellipsoid or subglobose34

34. 003-003-001

<Capsules>Length

ca. 3 mm35

35. 005-001

<Capsules>Placentation

placentation central36

36. 005-002

<Capsules>Seeds

seeds , , .37

37. 005-004

<Capsules>Valves

valves ;38

38. 005-003

<Habit>Height

20-70 cm high39

39. 001-002

<Habit>Stems

stem short40

40. 001-003

<Habit>Texture

smooth41

41. 001-001

<Lateral sepals>Anthers

anthers .42

42. 004-006

<Lateral sepals>Keel

the firm keel43

43. 004-003

<Lateral sepals>Length

6-6.5 mm44

44. 004-002

<Lateral sepals>Petals

petals , ;45

45. 004-004

<Lateral sepals>Shape

connate46

46. 004-001

<Lateral sepals>Staminodes

staminodes ;47

47. 004-005

<Leaves>Blade

blade , ,48

48. 002-004

<Leaves>Growth form

in a fan49

49. 002-001

<Leaves>Length

5-25 cm50

50. 002-002

<Leaves>Sheaths

sheath basally dilated, , ,51

51. 002-003

<Scapes>Shape

distally subterete, , ecostate or with ribs and striate52

52. 003-001

<Scapes>Spikes

spikes , , ,53

53. 003-003

<Scapes>Texture

smooth54

54. 003-002

Capsules

Capsule , ,55

55. 005

Description

Slender, smooth, hard-based, glaucous perennial, 20-70 cm high, stem short. Leaves in a fan, 5-25 cm, sheath basally dilated, castaneous or dark brown, upwards pink or purplish, eciliate, eligulate or ligule short; blade strongly flattened, 1.5-3.5 mm wide, margins thin, entireto papillose, tuberculate or scabridulous-ciliolate. Scapes brittle, distally subterete, 0.5-0.7 mm thick, ecostate or with 1 or more ribs and striate, smooth; spikes ovoid to broadly ellipsoid or subglobose, 0.8-1.2 cm, pale brown, bracts in a spiral with distinct though narrow dorsal area, empty ones few, broadly rounded or the lowest 1 or 2 with dorsal area prolonged as a cusp or short, angulate, linear blade equalling or exceeding spike, flower bracts strongly convex, obovate, 5-6 mm, rounded, sometimes apically red-villosulous. Lateral sepals 1/5-1/3 connate, inequilateral, 6-6.5 mm, the firm keel increasingly densely reddish-villous from middle to tip; petals obovate to reniform, ca. 6-7 mm; staminodes bearded; anthers 2 mm. Capsule ca. 3 mm, placentation central, valves eseptate; seeds broadly ellipsoid to ovoid, 0.3-0.5 mm, amber.

Distribution

Brazilian Planalto present, S Bolivar present, Southern America: Brazil Northeast (Bahia present); Brazil Southeast (São Paulo present); Brazil West-Central (Goiás present); Venezuela (Venezuela present), W Guyana present, contiguous Amazonian Brazil present

Across S Bolivar, Venezuela E to W Guyana and in contiguous Amazonian Brazil as well as the Brazilian Planalto from Bahia and Goias S to Sao Paulo.

Habit

Slender, , hard-based, glaucous perennial, , .56

56. 001

Individuals Association

Guyana, Venezuela: Bolivar: ca.l2 km N Sta. Elena, Kral 7218l Guyana, Mt. Roraima Expedition, im Thurn, Oct-Jan 1884-5, McConnell & Quelch Guyana, Puente Kamerepa, N of R. Yuruani Ferry, Kral 72196 Guyana, upper slopes of Mt. Roraima, McConnell & Quelch 41

Lateral sepals

Lateral sepals , inequilateral, , ;57

57. 004

Leaves

Leaves , , ;58

58. 002

Notes

This is one of the weedier and more distinctive of upland Xyris, combining a slender, tall and brittle habit with a glaucous foliage, distinc- tively cuspidate lower spike bracts and rusty-villous, 115-113 connate sepals. While rare in the Guianas, it is one of the commoner sights in the Brazilian Planalto, taking drier sites than do most species.

Scapes

Scapes brittle, , ;59

59. 003

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