Xyris surinamensis

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

white1

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

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

6-8 mm2

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

<<<<Scapes>Ribs>Edges>Hairs>Colour

pale3

3. 003-003-001-001-001

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

several4

4. 003-004-004-002-001

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

in lower ones frequently -pilose5

5. 003-004-004-003-002

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

oblong to obovate, , slightly carinate, obtuse angled or rounded, dorsal area large, often venose6

6. 003-004-004-003-001

<<<Scapes>Ribs>Edges>Hairs

-pilose-ciliate7

7. 003-003-001-001

<<<Scapes>Ribs>Edges>Texture

scabrid8

8. 003-003-001-002

<<<Scapes>Spikes>Bracts>Empty bracts

empty ones , lowest very small grading into the flowering ones9

9. 003-004-004-002

<<<Scapes>Spikes>Bracts>Floral bracts

these ,10

10. 003-004-004-003

<<<Scapes>Spikes>Bracts>Texture

stiff11

11. 003-004-004-001

<<Capsules>Seeds>Colour

pale amber12

12. 005-004-004

<<Capsules>Seeds>Length

ca. 1 mm13

13. 005-004-003

<<Capsules>Seeds>Seed number

few14

14. 005-004-001

<<Capsules>Seeds>Shape

cylindric-fusiform15

15. 005-004-002

<<Capsules>Valves>Septa

with strong septa16

16. 005-003-001

<<Lateral sepals>Anthers>Length

ca. 2 mm17

17. 004-005-001

<<Lateral sepals>Keel>Hairs

lacerate, villosulous or ciliolate from middle to tip18

18. 004-002-001

<<Lateral sepals>Petals>Length

5-6 mm19

19. 004-003-002

<<Lateral sepals>Petals>Shape

broadly obovate20

20. 004-003-001

<<Lateral sepals>Staminodes>Shape

bearded21

21. 004-004-001

<<Leaves>Blade>Shape

flattened22

22. 002-004-001

<<Leaves>Blade>Width

2-4 mm wide23

23. 002-004-002

<<Leaves>Margins>Colour

mostly pale24

24. 002-005-001

<<Leaves>Margins>Hairs

ciliate or scabro-ciliate25

25. 002-005-002

<<Leaves>Margins>Texture

rarely papillose, surface mostly rugulose26

26. 002-005-003

<<Leaves>Sheaths>Colour

red to purple or castaneous27

27. 002-003-004

<<Leaves>Sheaths>Growth form

ascending or slightly spreading28

28. 002-003-001

<<Leaves>Sheaths>Hairs

strongly ciliate29

29. 002-003-002

<<Leaves>Sheaths>Ligula

eligulate30

30. 002-003-005

<<Leaves>Sheaths>Texture

rugose31

31. 002-003-003

<<Scapes>Ribs>Edges

these or32

32. 003-003-001

<<Scapes>Spikes>Bracts

with many bracts in a spiral, ,33

33. 003-004-004

<<Scapes>Spikes>Colour

brown to red-brown34

34. 003-004-003

<<Scapes>Spikes>Length

0.8-1 cm35

35. 003-004-002

<<Scapes>Spikes>Shape

ovoid to subglobose, becoming turbinate36

36. 003-004-001

<Capsules>Length

4-5 mm37

37. 005-001

<Capsules>Placentation

placentation basally axile38

38. 005-002

<Capsules>Seeds

seeds , , , .39

39. 005-004

<Capsules>Valves

valves ;40

40. 005-003

<Habit>Height

25-40 cm high41

41. 001-001

<Habit>Stems

stem short42

42. 001-002

<Lateral sepals>Anthers

anthers .43

43. 004-005

<Lateral sepals>Keel

keel firm,44

44. 004-002

<Lateral sepals>Length

5-7 mm45

45. 004-001

<Lateral sepals>Petals

petals , ;46

46. 004-003

<Lateral sepals>Staminodes

staminodes ;47

47. 004-004

<Leaves>Blade

blade , ,48

48. 002-004

<Leaves>Length

15-30 cm49

49. 002-001

<Leaves>Margins

margins , incrassate, , , strongly veined.50

50. 002-005

<Leaves>Relative dimensions

often nearly as long as scapes51

51. 002-002

<Leaves>Sheaths

sheath , firm, , ,52

52. 002-003

<Scapes>Ribs

with strong ribs forming edges,53

53. 003-003

<Scapes>Shape

distally flattened54

54. 003-001

<Scapes>Spikes

spikes , , , .55

55. 003-004

<Scapes>Width

2-3 mm wide56

56. 003-002

Capsules

Capsule , ,57

57. 005

Description

Cespitose, hard-based, often bulbous, perennial, 25-40 cm high, stem short. Leaves 15-30 cm, often nearly as long as scapes, ascending or slightly spreading sheath strongly ciliate, firm, rugose, red to purple or castaneous, eligulate, blade flattened, 2-4 mm wide, margins mostly pale, incrassate, ciliate or scabro-ciliate, rarely papillose, surface mostly rugulose, strongly veined. Scapes distally flattened, 2-3 mm wide, with strong ribs forming edges, these pale-pilose-ciliate or scabrid; spikes ovoid to subglobose, becoming turbinate, 0.8-1 cm, brown to red-brown, with many stiff bracts in a spiral, empty ones several, lowest very small grading into the flowering ones, these oblong to obovate, 6-8 mm, slightly carinate, obtuse angled or rounded, dorsal area large, often venose, in lower ones frequently white-pilose. Lateral sepals free, subequilateral to inequilateral, narrow, 5-7 mm, curved, keel firm, lacerate, villosulous or ciliolate from middle to tip; petals broadly obovate, 5-6 mm; staminodes bearded; anthers ca. 2 mm. Capsule 4-5 mm, placentation basally axile, valves with strong septa; seeds few, cylindric-fusiform, ca. 1 mm, pale amber.

Distribution

S Venezuela present, SE Colombia present, Suriname present, contiguous Amazonian Brazil present

SE Colombia eastward through S Venezuela to Suriname and S into contiguous Amazonian Brazil.

Habit

Cespitose, hard-based, often bulbous, perennial, , .58

58. 001

Individuals Association

Suriname, Zanderij Savanna near Matta, Mori et al. 8322 Suriname, Zanderij I, Lan- jouw 135 Suriname, Nat. Res. Brinckheuvel (Saban Pasi Savanne), Wildschut & Teunissen LBB ll602 Guyana, Pakaraima Mts., Mt. Aymatoi, Maas et al. 5691 Guyana, East Coast Water Conservancy, SE of Georgetown, Hoorubia Cr., A.S.Hitchcock 16943 Guyana, Pakaraima Mts., Mt. Membaru, Maas & Westra 4342

Lateral sepals

Lateral sepals free, subequilateral to inequilateral, narrow, , curved, ;59

59. 004

Leaves

Leaves , , ,60

60. 002

Notes

This species is highly variable in indumentum, in some collections scape edges are white-pilose, in others virtually smooth. In the savannas around and west of Mt. Roraima its pale yellow petals, along with those of X. bicephala and X. involucrata do much to decorate the expanses.

Scapes

Scapes , , ;61

61. 003

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