GrassBase - The Online World Grass Flora





HABIT Annual. Culms geniculately ascending; 10–40 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle contracted. Panicle axis bearing deciduous spikelet clusters.

Spikelets subtended by an involucre. Fertile spikelets pedicelled; 1 in the cluster. Companion sterile spikelets pedicelled; 3 in the cluster. Involucre composed of imperfect spikelets. Pedicels filiform.

STERILE SPIKELETS Companion sterile spikelets well-developed; deciduous with the fertile. Companion sterile spikelet glumes mucronate, or awned.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets ovate; laterally compressed; 3–5 mm long; falling entire; deciduous with accessory branch structures.

GLUMES Glumes exceeding apex of florets. Lower glume lanceolate; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume surface without pits. Lower glume apex acuminate; mucronate, or awned. Upper glume lanceolate; 1.6 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Upper glume apex acuminate; mucronate, or awned; 1 -awned.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic; without keel; wingless; 5 -veined. Lemma surface scabrous; unwrinkled; without grooves. Lemma apex dentate; 2 -fid; incised 0.2 of lemma length; awned. Principal lemma awn from a sinus. Palea 1 length of lemma. Apical sterile florets 1 in number; barren; ovate. Apical sterile lemmas awned.

FLOWER Anthers 3.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Hilum elliptic.

DISTRIBUTION Europe, or Africa, or Temperate Asia, or Tropical Asia, or Australasia, or Pacific, or North America, or South America.
