Briza

HABIT Annual (3), or perennial (20). Rhizomes absent (20), or short (2), or elongated (1). Culms erect, or decumbent (2); 6–51–150 cm long. Culm-internodes terete (1/1). Lateral branches lacking (1/1). Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades linear, or lanceolate (1); firm (22), or flaccid (1).

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open (18), or contracted (6).

Spikelets appressed (1/5), or ascending (1/5), or pendulous (4/5); solitary (22), or in pairs (1). Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels filiform (6/8), or linear (2/8).

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2–6–20 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong (4), or ovate (11), or orbicular (10), or obovate (2), or cuneate (2); laterally compressed (22), or subterete (1); 2–5.463–25 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes definite; glabrous (22), or pubescent (1). Floret callus glabrous (1/3), or pubescent (1/3), or pilose (1/3).

GLUMES Glumes persistent; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate (2), or elliptic (1), or oblong (1), or ovate (10), or orbicular (9); 0.7–0.9478–1 length of upper glume; membranous (18), or chartaceous (3), or herbaceous (2); without keels (5), or 1-keeled (18); 1 -veined (1), or 3 -veined (19), or 4 -veined (5), or 5 -veined (7), or 6 -veined (1), or 7 -veined (2), or 8–9 -veined (1). Lower glume lateral veins absent (1), or distinct (22). Lower glume surface smooth (20), or asperulous (1), or scabrous (2); without pits; glabrous (19), or puberulous (3), or pubescent (1). Lower glume apex obtuse (9/22), or acute (14/22). Upper glume lanceolate (1), or elliptic (1), or oblong (1), or ovate (11), or orbicular (9); 0.6–0.917–1.4 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous (18), or chartaceous (3), or herbaceous (2); with undifferentiated margins (22), or hyaline margins (1); without keels (5), or 1-keeled (18); 3 -veined (16), or 4 -veined (5), or 5 -veined (11), or 7–9 -veined (1). Upper glume primary vein eciliate (20), or ciliolate (2), or ciliate (1). Upper glume surface smooth (20), or asperulous (1), or scabrous (2); glabrous (19), or puberulous (3), or pubescent (1). Upper glume apex obtuse (12/22), or acute (11/22).

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic (1), or ovate (3), or orbicular (7), or oblate (10), or trullate (1), or obovate (1); without auricles (14), or auriculate at base (8), or thickened on margins at base (1); laterally compressed (1/1); not gibbous (17), or gibbous (6); membranous (6), or chartaceous (4), or herbaceous (1), or cartilaginous (1), or coriaceous (12); of similar consistency above (19), or much thinner above (4); of similar consistency on margins (5), or much thinner on margins (18); without keel (1), or keeled (22); wingless (18), or winged on margins (5); 3 -veined (1), or 5 -veined (15), or 6 -veined (1), or 7 -veined (8), or 8–9 -veined (4). Lemma midvein eciliate (22), or ciliate (1). Lemma lateral veins obscure (1/1). Lemma surface smooth (18), or asperulous (1), or scaberulous (1), or scabrous (1), or papillose (1), or tuberculate (1); unwrinkled; without grooves; glabrous (22), or puberulous (1), or pubescent (2); with simple hairs (2/3), or capitate hairs (1/3). Lemma margins flat, or involute (1); eciliate (21), or ciliolate (1), or ciliate (1), or pubescent (1). Lemma apex entire (19), or dentate (5); 2 -fid (5/5); truncate (2/14), or obtuse (7/14), or acute (4/14), or cuspidate (3/14); muticous (15), or mucronate (6), or awned (5); 1 -awned (5/5). Principal lemma awn apical (7/11), or from a sinus (4/11). Palea 0.5–0.791–1 length of lemma; membranous (12), or coriaceous (11); 2 -veined. Palea keels wingless (18), or winged (5); smooth (22), or scabrous (1); eciliate (15), or ciliolate (7), or ciliate (1). Palea surface glabrous (18), or puberulous (2), or pubescent (3). Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2 (21/21); membranous (13/13); truncate (6/13), or acute (7/13). Anthers 1 (13), or 2 (3), or 3 (12). Ovary glabrous (21/21).

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; ellipsoid (6/15), or oblong (1/15), or ovoid (1/15), or orbicular (6/15), or obovoid (2/15); plano-convex (2/8), or trigonous (6/8). Embryo 0.25 length of caryopsis. Hilum punctiform (15), or elliptic (8), or linear (1); 0.5 length of caryopsis.

DISTRIBUTION Europe (4), or Africa (4), or Temperate Asia (5), or Tropical Asia (3), or Australasia (5), or Pacific (2), or North America (4), or South America (21).

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