Xyris setigera

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

6-7 mm1

1. 003-005-004-002-001-001

<<<<Scapes>Spikes>Bracts>Fertile bracts>Hairs

lacerate with age2

2. 003-005-004-002-002

<<<<Scapes>Spikes>Bracts>Fertile bracts>Shape

oblong to narrowly obovate, ecarinate, , rounded3

3. 003-005-004-002-001

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

few4

4. 003-005-004-001-001

<<<Leaves>Sheaths>Blade>Shape

somewhat to quite flattened5

5. 002-003-004-001

<<<Leaves>Sheaths>Blade>Texture

tuberculate-rugose to nearly smooth6

6. 002-003-004-003

<<<Leaves>Sheaths>Blade>Width

0.5-3 mm wide7

7. 002-003-004-002

<<<Leaves>Sheaths>Ligula>Length

to 2 mm8

8. 002-003-003-001

<<<Leaves>Sheaths>Margins>Hairs

with simple or branched, curved hairs9

9. 002-003-005-002

<<<Leaves>Sheaths>Margins>Texture

scabro-ciliate or tuberculate-scabrid10

10. 002-003-005-001

<<<Scapes>Spikes>Bracts>Fertile bracts

these , entire,11

11. 003-005-004-002

<<<Scapes>Spikes>Bracts>Sterile bracts

the sterile ones , grading into the larger fertile ones12

12. 003-005-004-001

<<Capsules>Seeds>Colour

dark amber13

13. 005-004-003

<<Capsules>Seeds>Length

ca. 0.5-0.6 mm14

14. 005-004-002

<<Capsules>Seeds>Shape

ellipsoid-ovoid15

15. 005-004-001

<<Capsules>Valves>Septa

with strong septa16

16. 005-003-001

<<Habit>Stems>Shape

short to slightly elongate17

17. 001-002-001

<<Lateral sepals>Anthers>Length

1.7-2 mm18

18. 004-006-001

<<Lateral sepals>Petals>Length

ca. 6 mm19

19. 004-004-002

<<Lateral sepals>Petals>Shape

obovate20

20. 004-004-001

<<Lateral sepals>Staminodes>Shape

bearded21

21. 004-005-001

<<Leaves>Sheaths>Blade

blade , , , punctate,22

22. 002-003-004

<<Leaves>Sheaths>Colour

dark to pale, red-brown to purple-red23

23. 002-003-001

<<Leaves>Sheaths>Hairs

long-ciliate24

24. 002-003-002

<<Leaves>Sheaths>Ligula

eligulate or with ligule25

25. 002-003-003

<<Leaves>Sheaths>Margins

margins thick, .26

26. 002-003-005

<<Scapes>Spikes>Bracts

bracts in a spiral, mostly without dorsal area, , .27

27. 003-005-004

<<Scapes>Spikes>Colour

deep brown28

28. 003-005-003

<<Scapes>Spikes>Length

0.5-1 cm29

29. 003-005-002

<<Scapes>Spikes>Shape

ovoid to ellipsoid, aging turbinate30

30. 003-005-001

<Capsules>Length

ca. 4.5 mm31

31. 005-001

<Capsules>Placentation

placentation central-axile32

32. 005-002

<Capsules>Seeds

seeds , , .33

33. 005-004

<Capsules>Valves

valves ;34

34. 005-003

<Habit>Height

15-60 cm high35

35. 001-001

<Habit>Stems

stems36

36. 001-002

<Lateral sepals>Anthers

anthers .37

37. 004-006

<Lateral sepals>Colour

dark red-brown38

38. 004-002

<Lateral sepals>Keel

keel nearly entire or lacerate-serrulate from middle up39

39. 004-003

<Lateral sepals>Length

5-6 mm40

40. 004-001

<Lateral sepals>Petals

petals , ;41

41. 004-004

<Lateral sepals>Staminodes

staminodes ;42

42. 004-005

<Leaves>Growth form

erect or in fans43

43. 002-001

<Leaves>Length

5-25 cm44

44. 002-002

<Leaves>Sheaths

sheath , , ,45

45. 002-003

<Scapes>Colour

often reddish46

46. 003-004

<Scapes>Shape

distally terete47

47. 003-001

<Scapes>Spikes

spikes , , ,48

48. 003-005

<Scapes>Texture

smooth49

49. 003-003

<Scapes>Thickness

0.5-1 mm thick50

50. 003-002

Capsules

Capsule , ,51

51. 005

Citation

F. Oliver: p. 285. – In: Trans. Linn. Soc. London. pl. 50A.l887.

Description

Densely cespitose perennial, 15-60 cm high, stems short to slightly elongate. Leaves erect or in fans, 5-25 cm; sheath dark to pale, red-brown to purple-red, long-ciliate, eligulate or with ligule to 2 mm, blade somewhat to quite flattened, 0.5-3 mm wide, tuberculate-rugose to nearly smooth, punctate, margins thick, scabro-ciliate or tuberculate-scabridwith simple or branched, curved hairs. Scapes distally terete, 0.5-1 mm thick, smooth, often reddish, punctate; spikes ovoid to ellipsoid, aging turbinate, 0.5-1 cm, deep brown, bracts in a spiral, mostly without dorsal area, the sterile ones few, grading into the larger fertile ones, these oblong to narrowly obovate, ecarinate, 6-7 mm, rounded, entire, lacerate with age. Lateral sepals free, subequilateral, narrow, 5-6 mm, dark red-brown, keel nearly entire or lacerate-serrulate from middle up; petals obovate, ca. 6 mm; staminodes bearded; anthers 1.7-2 mm. Capsule ca. 4.5 mm, placentation central-axile, valves with strong septa; seeds ellipsoid-ovoid, ca. 0.5-0.6 mm, dark amber.

Distribution

S Bolivar present, Southern America: Venezuela (Venezuela present), Terr. Roraima present, W Guyana present, contiguous Amazonian Brazil present

S Bolivar, Venezuela E to W Guyana and in contiguous Amazonian Brazil (Terr. Roraima).

Habit

Densely cespitose perennial, , .52

52. 001

Individuals Association

Guyana, Kaieteur Plateau, Maguire & Fanshawe 23164 Guyana, Upper Mazaruni R., Karowtipu Mt., Boom et al. 7606 Guyana, Phillip Swamp, Mt. Roraima and vici- nity, G.H.H. Thte 336 Guyana, southern Pakaraima Mts., Kopinang Savanna, Maguire & Wil- son-Browne 45988 Guyana, Kopinang Savanna, Maguire & Wilson- Browne 46117

Lateral sepals

Lateral sepals free, subequilateral, narrow, , , ;53

53. 004

Leaves

Leaves , ;54

54. 002

Notes

This is the most distinctive and abundant species in the Gran Sabana of Venezuela and the savannas around Mt. Roraima in Guyana, tallest and broadest-leaved at lower elevations, progressively shorter and often narrower-leaved at higher elevations.

Scapes

Scapes , , , , punctate;55

55. 003

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