Brachyelytrum

HABIT Perennial. Rhizomes short. Culms 28.5–62.41–102 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades linear, or lanceolate. Leaf-blade venation without cross veins, or with obscure cross veins.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; with a barren rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; dorsally compressed; 9–10.33–12 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus evident; pubescent (1), or pilose (2).

GLUMES Glumes persistent; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 0.15–0.3333–0.5 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 0 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume surface without pits. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 0.2–0.4333–0.8 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 1–3 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic; herbaceous; without keel; wingless; 5 -veined. Lemma lateral veins obscure (2), or prominent (1). Lemma surface smooth (1), or scaberulous, or scabrous (1); unwrinkled; without grooves; glabrous (1), or hispidulous (1), or hispid (1); hairy on veins (2/2). Lemma apex acuminate; awned; 1 -awned. Palea tightly convolute around flower; 2 -veined. Palea keels smooth (2), or scaberulous (1). Palea apex dentate (1/1).

FLOWER Lodicules 2. Anthers 2. Stigmas 2. Ovary unappendaged (2), or beaked (1); pubescent all over (1/1).

FRUIT Caryopsis with tardily free pericarp; linear; apex rostrate (1/1).

DISTRIBUTION Temperate Asia (1), or North America (2).

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