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GrassBase - The Online World Grass Flora
Descriptions
W.D. Clayton, M. Vorontsova, K.T. Harman & H. Williamson
© Copyright The Board of Trustees, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
Centropodia
HABIT Perennial. Rhizomes absent (1), or short (2), or elongated (1). Culms erect (1), or geniculately ascending (2), or decumbent (3); 3–61–120 cm long. Ligule a ciliate membrane (2), or a fringe of hairs (2). Leaf-blades deciduous at the ligule; stiff. Leaf-blade margins cartilaginous (1/1). Leaf-blade apex pungent.
INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle; exserted (3), or embraced at base by subtending leaf (2).
Panicle contracted.
Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.
FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2 fertile florets (3), or 3–4 fertile florets (2), or 5–6 fertile florets (1); with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets lanceolate; laterally compressed; 7–11.62–24 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes elongated between glumes; definite. Floret callus evident; pubescent; pungent.
GLUMES Glumes persistent; shorter than spikelet (1), or reaching apex of florets (2), or exceeding apex of florets (2). Lower glume lanceolate (1), or elliptic (3); 1 length of upper glume; chartaceous; without keels; 7 -veined, or 8–9 -veined (3), or 10–11 -veined (1). Lower glume surface smooth (1), or asperulous (3); without pits; glabrous, or pubescent (2). Lower glume apex acute (3), or acuminate (1). Upper glume lanceolate; 2 length of adjacent fertile lemma; chartaceous; without keels; 5–6 -veined (1), or 7 -veined, or 8–9 -veined (3), or 10–11 -veined (1). Upper glume surface smooth (1), or asperulous (3); glabrous, or pubescent (2). Upper glume apex acute (3), or acuminate (1).
FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; chartaceous; much thinner above; without keel; wingless; 9 -veined. Lemma lateral veins without ribs (2), or ribbed (2). Lemma surface unwrinkled; without grooves; pubescent; hairy between veins; with a transverse row of hair tufts. Lemma margins eciliate (2), or ciliolate (2). Lemma apex lobed; 2 -fid; incised 0.4–0.5063–0.6 of lemma length; acuminate; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn from a sinus; straight (3), or geniculate (3). Palea 0.75 length of lemma; 2 -veined. Palea keels ciliolate. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.
FLOWER Lodicules 2; fleshy. Anthers 3.
FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; ellipsoid (1/1).
DISTRIBUTION Africa, or Temperate Asia (2), or Tropical Asia (1).
Please cite this publication as detailed in How to Cite Version: 3rd February 2016.
