Capillipedium

HABIT Annual (6), or perennial (11). Rhizomes absent (16), or elongated (1). Culms erect (7/14), or geniculately ascending (5/14), or decumbent (6/14), or rambling (1/14); slender (2/3), or weak (1/3); 15–75.77–300 cm long; firm (16), or woody (1); with prop roots (1/4), or rooting from lower nodes (4/4). Lateral branches lacking (2/8), or sparse (3/8), or ample (3/8), or suffrutescent (1/8). Leaf-sheath auricles absent (16), or erect (1). Ligule an eciliate membrane (1), or a ciliolate membrane (14), or a ciliate membrane (1), or a fringe of hairs (1). Leaf-blade base without a false petiole (16), or with a brief petiole-like connection to sheath (1). Leaf-blades linear, or lanceolate (2); stiff (1), or firm (15), or flaccid (1). Leaf-blade midrib widened (2/2).

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle with branches tipped by a raceme.

Panicle open (16), or contracted (1). Primary panicle branches not whorled (13), or whorled at lower nodes (3), or whorled at most nodes (1).

Racemes bearing a triad of spikelets (5), or few fertile spikelets (14), or many spikelets (2); 1 fertile spikelets on each (6), or 2 fertile spikelets on each (9), or 3 fertile spikelets on each (12), or 4 fertile spikelets on each (8), or 5 fertile spikelets on each (5), or 6 fertile spikelets on each (3), or 7–8 fertile spikelets on each (1). Rhachis evident (16), or obsolete (4); tough (9), or fragile at the nodes (8); flattened (1/5), or subterete (4/5). Rhachis internodes indefinite (5/16), or filiform (1/16), or linear (9/16), or oblong (1/16).

Spikelets in pairs (15), or in threes (6). Fertile spikelets sessile; 1 in the cluster. Companion sterile spikelets pedicelled; 1 in the cluster (15), or 2 in the cluster (6). Pedicels filiform (1), or linear (15), or narrowly elliptic (1); with a translucent median line (also present in internodes).

STERILE SPIKELETS Companion sterile spikelets well-developed; separately deciduous. Companion sterile spikelet glumes muticous (3/3).

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets linear (2), or lanceolate (2), or elliptic (3), or oblong (11), or ovate (2); dorsally compressed; 1.66–3.641–8.4 mm long; falling entire; deciduous with accessory branch structures. Spikelet callus pubescent (5/14), or pilose (6/14), or bearded (3/14); base obtuse (15/15); attached transversely (14/14).

GLUMES Glumes exceeding apex of florets; firmer than fertile lemma. Lower glume linear (1), or lanceolate (3), or elliptic (2), or oblong (11), or ovate (2); membranous (9), or chartaceous (7), or coriaceous (1); without keels (5), or 2-keeled (12); 5 -veined (1/11), or 7 -veined (4/11), or 8 -veined (1/11), or 9 -veined (5/11), or 10 -veined (1/11). Lower glume lateral veins obscure (1), or distinct (15), or prominent (1); intercarinal veins distinct (4/4). Lower glume surface flat (2), or concave (14), or with a longitudinal median groove (1); smooth (12), or asperulous (3), or scabrous (2); without pits; glabrous (11), or puberulous (1), or pubescent (4), or pilose (2), or villous (1). Lower glume apex entire (16), or erose (1); truncate (3/8), or obtuse (4/8), or acute (1/8). Upper glume lanceolate (10), or oblong (4), or ovate (7); chartaceous (6/6); with undifferentiated margins (16), or hyaline margins (1); 1-keeled; 3 -veined (12/12), or 4–5 -veined (1/12). Upper glume surface glabrous (15), or puberulous (1), or pilose (1). Upper glume apex acute (2/2).

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren (16/16); without significant palea (16/16). Lemma of lower sterile floret linear (1/16), or lanceolate (1/16), or oblong (14/16); hyaline (16/16); 0 -veined (10/10); obtuse (1/1), or acute (1/1). Fertile lemma linear (16/16); hyaline (16/16); without keel (16/16); wingless (16/16); 0 -veined (1/14), or 1 -veined (13/14). Lemma surface unwrinkled (16/16); without grooves (16/16). Lemma apex acute (15/15); awned (16/16); 1 -awned (10/10). Principal lemma awn geniculate (15/16), or bigeniculate (1/16). Column of lemma awn glabrous (15/16), or pubescent (1/16). Palea present (1), or absent or minute (16); hyaline (1/1).

FLOWER Anthers 3 (16/16).

DISTRIBUTION Africa (1), or Temperate Asia (5), or Tropical Asia (16), or Australasia (2), or Pacific (2).

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