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GrassBase - The Online World Grass Flora
Descriptions
W.D. Clayton, M. Vorontsova, K.T. Harman & H. Williamson
© Copyright The Board of Trustees, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
Alloteropsis
HABIT Annual (2), or perennial (3). Rhizomes absent (4), or short (1). Culms erect (3), or geniculately ascending (4), or decumbent (2); slender (1/1); 20–79–150 cm long; firm (4), or wiry (1). Lateral branches lacking (1/1). Leaf-sheaths open for most of their length (2/2). Ligule a ciliate membrane (1), or a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades linear (3), or lanceolate (2), or ovate (1). Leaf-blade midrib evident (2/2).
INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.
Racemes digitate, or borne along a central axis (1); unilateral. Rhachis angular. Spikelet packing contiguous (4), or lax (1). Raceme-bases brief (4), or filiform (3).
Spikelets ascending (1/1); solitary (1), or in pairs, or clustered at each node. Fertile spikelets pedicelled; 2–4 in the cluster, or 5–6 in the cluster (1). Pedicels tip cupuliform (1/1).
FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension, or with a barren rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic (2), or ovate (4); dorsally compressed; 2.5–4.25–7.5 mm long; falling entire.
GLUMES Glumes reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined (1), or 3 -veined (4). Lower glume lateral veins absent (1), or distinct (4). Lower glume surface without pits. Lower glume apex acute (1), or acuminate (4). Upper glume ovate; membranous (3), or cartilaginous (2); without keels; 5 -veined. Upper glume surface glabrous (4), or puberulous (1). Upper glume apex acute (3), or acuminate (3).
FLORETS Basal sterile florets male; with palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret ovate; membranous (3), or chartaceous (1), or cartilaginous (1); 5 -veined; truncate (1), or acute (1), or acuminate (3). Fertile lemma lanceolate (2), or oblong (3), or ovate (1); chartaceous; without keel; wingless; 5 -veined. Lemma surface unwrinkled; without grooves. Lemma margins involute; eciliate (4), or ciliolate (1). Lemma apex acuminate; awned; 1 -awned. Palea 1 length of lemma; chartaceous. Palea surface glabrous (3), or pubescent (2). Palea apex entire (1/1).
FLOWER Lodicules 2 (1/1). Anthers 2 (1/2), or 3 (2/2). Ovary glabrous (2/2).
FRUIT Caryopsis ovoid (2/2); laterally compressed (1/1).
DISTRIBUTION Africa, or Temperate Asia (2), or Tropical Asia (2), or Australasia (2), or Pacific (1), or North America (1).
Please cite this publication as detailed in How to Cite Version: 3rd February 2016.
