Brachypodium

HABIT Annual (1), or perennial (15). Rhizomes absent (13), or short (1), or elongated (2). Stolons absent (14), or present (2). Culms erect (9/14), or geniculately ascending (9/14), or decumbent (3/14); 3–49.78–150 cm long; firm (12), or wiry (4); rooting from lower nodes (1/1). Lateral branches lacking (2/4), or sparse (2/4), or ample (1/4). Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades aciculate (1), or filiform (1), or linear (13), or lanceolate (1); stiff (2), or firm (11), or flaccid (4).

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes (15), or comprising only a few spikelets (1).

Racemes single (15/15); erect (4/15), or ascending (11/15), or drooping (3/15); bilateral (15/15); bearing few fertile spikelets (15/15); bearing 1–5–15 fertile spikelets on each. Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis (15/15); crowded (1/15), or contiguous (2/15), or lax (12/15); 2 -rowed (8/8).

Spikelets appressed (2/7), or ascending (6/7), or spreading (1/7); solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile (2), or pedicelled (14). Pedicels linear (3/9), or oblong (7/9), or cuneate (1/9).

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2–10–22 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets linear (1), or lanceolate (9), or elliptic (1), or oblong (9), or ovate (1); laterally compressed (15), or subterete (1); 9–24.84–42 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes definite; glabrous (15), or pilose (1). Floret callus glabrous (2/2), or pubescent (1/2).

GLUMES Glumes persistent; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume linear (1), or lanceolate (12), or elliptic (1), or oblong (3), or ovate (1); 0.5–0.7381–1 length of upper glume; membranous (14), or chartaceous (1), or coriaceous (1); without keels; 3 -veined (3), or 4 -veined (2), or 5 -veined (14), or 6–7 -veined (5), or 8–11 -veined (1). Lower glume lateral veins distinct (15), or prominent (1); without ribs (15), or ribbed (1). Lower glume surface without pits; glabrous (14), or puberulous (1), or pubescent (2). Lower glume apex obtuse (2), or acute (10), or acuminate (5). Upper glume linear (1), or lanceolate (10), or elliptic (1), or oblong (5), or ovate (2); 0.5–0.8641–1.3 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous (14), or chartaceous (1), or coriaceous (1); without keels; 5 -veined (4), or 6 -veined (3), or 7 -veined (14), or 8 -veined (4), or 9 -veined (5). Upper glume lateral veins without ribs (15), or ribbed (1). Upper glume surface glabrous (14), or puberulous (1), or pubescent (2). Upper glume apex obtuse (2), or acute (10), or acuminate (5).

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate (4), or elliptic (1), or oblong (12); laterally compressed (1/1); membranous (4/9), or chartaceous (4/9), or coriaceous (1/9); without keel; wingless; 5 -veined (2), or 6 -veined (1), or 7 -veined (15), or 8–9 -veined (1). Lemma lateral veins prominent (2/2). Lemma surface smooth (12), or scaberulous (3), or scabrous (1); unwrinkled; without grooves; glabrous (14), or puberulous (1), or pubescent (4), or pilose (2). Lemma margins eciliate (15), or ciliolate (1). Lemma apex obtuse (4), or acute (11), or acuminate (2); muticous (4), or mucronate (1), or awned (13); 1 -awned (13/13). Palea 1 length of lemma. Palea keels eciliate (5), or pubescent (1), or ciliolate (11). Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2 (2/2); glabrous (1/2), or ciliate (1/2). Anthers 3 (15/15). Ovary unappendaged (4), or with a fleshy appendage below style insertion (12); pubescent on apex (13/13).

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp (14/14); ellipsoid (1/1); apex fleshy (12/12). Embryo 0.25 length of caryopsis. Hilum linear (13/13); 1 length of caryopsis.

DISTRIBUTION Europe (5), or Africa (11), or Temperate Asia (8), or Tropical Asia (3), or Australasia (3), or North America (3), or South America (4).

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