GrassBase - The Online World Grass Flora





HABIT Annual. Culms 5–27.1–65 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades firm (4), or flaccid (1).

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open. Primary panicle branches whorled at most nodes; without sterile bristles (3), or sterile at lowest node (2).

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels filiform; tip rectangular (1/1).

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets (3), or 2–3 fertile florets (4), or 4–7 fertile florets (2), or 8 fertile florets (3), or 9 fertile florets (2), or 10–12 fertile florets (1); with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets elliptic; laterally compressed; 2–5.15–11.5 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes definite.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume elliptic (1), or ovate (4); 0.6–0.711–0.8 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume surface without pits. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume elliptic (1), or ovate (4); 0.6–0.856–1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; lanceolate in profile (1), or oblong in profile (4); membranous; much thinner above; keeled; wingless; 5 -veined. Lemma midvein eciliate (4), or ciliolate (1). Lemma surface unwrinkled; without grooves; glabrous (1), or pubescent (4); hairy on veins (4/4). Lemma apex truncate (2), or obtuse (1), or acute (1), or attenuate (1), or apiculate (1). Palea keels smooth (1), or scabrous (4). Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Anthers 3.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; lanceolate (1/1); trigonous (1/1). Embryo 1.1–1.15–1.2 length of caryopsis.

DISTRIBUTION Europe (1), or Africa (1), or Temperate Asia, or Tropical Asia (2).
