Aeluropus

HABIT Annual (1), or perennial (5). Rhizomes absent (2), or elongated (4). Stolons absent (5), or present (2). Culms erect (2), or geniculately ascending (2), or decumbent (1), or prostrate (4); 3–17.5–40 cm long; firm (5), or woody (1). Leaf-sheaths open for most of their length (1/1). Ligule a ciliolate membrane (5), or a fringe of hairs (1). Leaf-blades linear (5), or lanceolate (3); herbaceous (1), or coriaceous (5); stiff (5), or firm (1). Leaf-blade midrib indistinct (1/1). Leaf-blade apex muticous (1), or pungent (5).

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes single (2), or borne along a central axis (4); not compacted (1/4), or in a bilateral false spike (3/4); appressed (3), or ascending (3); linear (4), or oblong (2), or globose (1); unilateral (5), or multilateral (2); bearing few fertile spikelets (1), or many spikelets; bearing 2–10 fertile spikelets on each (1/1). Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis; crowded; 2 -rowed (4/4).

Spikelets appressed (2/2); solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 0–1 basal sterile florets (1/1); 4 fertile florets (2), or 5 fertile florets (3), or 6 fertile florets (5), or 7 fertile florets (4), or 8–9 fertile florets (5), or 10–12 fertile florets (3), or 13–18 fertile florets (2), or 19–30 fertile florets (1); with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets elliptic (1), or oblong (3), or ovate (3); laterally compressed; 3–5–15 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes definite.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate (2), or elliptic (4), or ovate (1); 0.66–0.822–0.9 length of upper glume; membranous (1), or chartaceous (5); 1-keeled; 1 -veined (2), or 2 -veined (3), or 3 -veined (5), or 5–7 -veined (1). Lower glume surface without pits; glabrous (3), or pubescent (1), or pilose (1), or villous (1). Lower glume apex acute; muticous (5), or mucronate (1). Upper glume elliptic (5), or ovate (2); 0.7–0.8042–1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous (1), or chartaceous (5); with undifferentiated margins (5), or membranous margins (1); without keels (1), or 1-keeled (5); 3–4 -veined (2), or 5 -veined, or 6–7 -veined (4). Upper glume surface glabrous (3), or pubescent (1), or pilose (1), or villous (1). Upper glume apex entire (3), or erose (3); obtuse (3), or acute (3); muticous (5), or mucronate (1).

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren (1/1); without significant palea (1/1). Fertile lemma lanceolate (1), or elliptic (3), or ovate (3); chartaceous; without keel (1), or keeled (5); wingless; 9–11 -veined. Lemma lateral veins prominent (4/4); without ribs (5), or ribbed (1). Lemma surface unwrinkled; without grooves; glabrous (1), or pilose (2), or hirsute (1), or villous (2); hairy on back (4/5), or between veins (1/5); with simple hairs (4/5), or tubercle-based hairs (1/5). Lemma margins eciliate (3), or ciliolate (1), or ciliate (2). Lemma apex acute (2), or apiculate (4); muticous (5), or mucronate (1). Palea 1 length of lemma; hyaline (2), or membranous (4); 2 -veined. Palea keels smooth (4), or scaberulous (1), or scabrous (1); eciliate (5), or ciliate (1). Palea surface glabrous (5), or pilose (1). Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; fleshy; glabrous (5), or ciliate (1); truncate (5/5). Anthers 3.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp (5/5); oblong (1/3), or obovoid (2/3); dorsally compressed (3/3); plano-convex (2/2). Embryo 0.6 length of caryopsis. Hilum punctiform (3/3).

DISTRIBUTION Europe (2), or Africa (2), or Temperate Asia, or Tropical Asia (3).

Please cite this publication as detailed in How to Cite Version: 3rd February 2016.