Cathestecum

HABIT Annual (1), or perennial (3). Stolons absent (1), or present (3). Culms erect (1/3), or geniculately ascending (2/3), or decumbent (1/3), or prostrate (1/3); slender (1/1); 4–15.5–35 cm long. Lateral branches ample (1/1). Ligule a ciliolate membrane (3), or a fringe of hairs (1).

INFLORESCENCE Bisexual (2), or androdioecious (2). Inflorescence composed of racemes; terminal (3), or terminal and axillary (1).

Racemes borne along a central axis; cuneate; bearing a triad of spikelets. Central inflorescence axis tip subulate. Rhachis deciduous from axis; terminating in a spikelet (1), or barren extension (3); extension bristle-like (3/3). Raceme-bases brief (3), or linear (1).

Spikelets in threes. Fertile spikelets sessile and pedicelled (1), or pedicelled (3); 1 in the cluster (3), or 3 in the cluster (1). Companion sterile spikelets sessile (3/3); 2 in the cluster (3/3). Pedicels linear (1/3), or oblong (2/3).

STERILE SPIKELETS Companion sterile spikelets absent (1), or well-developed (3); deciduous with the fertile (3/3). Companion sterile spikelet glumes muticous (2/3), or mucronate (1/3).

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets cuneate; laterally compressed; 2.49–4.232–6 mm long; falling entire; deciduous with accessory branch structures.

GLUMES Glumes shorter than spikelet (1), or reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma (1), or similar to fertile lemma in texture (3); parallel to lemmas (3), or gaping (1). Lower glume linear (1), or oblong (1), or flabellate (2); 0.05–0.175–0.3 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 0 -veined (3), or 1 -veined (1). Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume surface without pits. Lower glume apex emarginate (2/3), or obtuse (1/3). Upper glume lanceolate (3), or elliptic (1); 1–1.15–1.3 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume primary vein eciliate (3), or ciliate (1). Upper glume surface glabrous (1), or pilose (1), or villous (2). Upper glume apex entire (3), or dentate (2); 2 -fid (2/2); emarginate (1/3), or obtuse (1/3), or acute (1/3), or acuminate (1/3); mucronate (3), or awned (1); 1 -awned (1/1).

FLORETS Fertile florets bisexual (2), or female (3). Fertile lemma oblong; membranous (3), or cartilaginous (1); without keel (3), or keeled (1); wingless; 3 -veined. Lemma surface unwrinkled; without grooves; glabrous (1), or pubescent (2), or pilose (1). Lemma margins eciliate (2), or ciliolate (1), or ciliate (1). Lemma apex lobed; 3 -fid; incised 0.25–0.27–0.33 of lemma length; awned; 3 -awned. Principal lemma awn apical (1), or from a sinus (3); limb glabrous (3), or ciliate (1). Lateral lemma awns subequal to principal (3), or shorter than principal (1). Palea surface glabrous (3), or pubescent (1). Palea apex muticous (2), or with excurrent keel veins (1), or awned (1). Apical sterile florets 2 in number; male, or barren (3); oblong. Apical sterile lemmas awned. Apical sterile lemma awns glabrous (2), or ciliate (2).

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp (1/1); obovoid (1/1); dorsally compressed (1/1); trigonous (1/1).

MALE Male inflorescence similar to female (2/2).

DISTRIBUTION North America, or South America (1).

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