Chionochloa

HABIT Perennial. Culms erect (23/24), or geniculately ascending (1/24), or rambling (1/24); robust (1/2), or slender (1/2); 15–69–200 cm long. Culm-internodes elliptical in section (1/1). Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades persistent (13), or deciduous at the ligule (9), or deciduous with part of sheath attached (5); aciculate (1), or filiform (4), or linear (20); herbaceous (2), or coriaceous (23); stiff (23), or firm (2). Leaf-blade midrib evident (1/1). Leaf-blade margins cartilaginous (3/3). Leaf-blade apex muticous (21), or pungent (4).

INFLORESCENCE Bisexual (24), or gynodioecious ("male", in this context, indicating the bisexual state) (1). Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open (21), or contracted (5).

Spikelets solitary, or in pairs (1). Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 0–1 basal sterile florets (1/1); 2 fertile florets (1), or 3 fertile florets (6), or 4 fertile florets (12), or 5 fertile florets (14), or 6 fertile florets (19), or 7 fertile florets (13), or 8 fertile florets (8), or 9 fertile florets (2); with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 6–13.54–20 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes definite; glabrous, or pubescent (2). Floret callus brief (1), or evident (1), or elongated (23); pilose (10), or bearded (15).

GLUMES Glumes persistent; shorter than spikelet (23), or reaching apex of florets (2); thinner than fertile lemma (1), or similar to fertile lemma in texture (24). Lower glume lanceolate; 0.4–0.865–1 length of upper glume; hyaline (1), or membranous (23), or chartaceous (1); without keels; 1 -veined (17), or 2 -veined (13), or 3 -veined (21), or 4–5 -veined (5). Lower glume lateral veins absent (16), or obscure (12), or distinct (9). Lower glume surface smooth (21), or scabrous (4); without pits. Lower glume apex entire, or erose (1), or dentate (2); 2 -fid (2/2); emarginate (1), or truncate (1), or acute (24), or acuminate (1), or attenuate (1), or setaceously attenuate (6); muticous (24), or mucronate (3), or awned (2). Upper glume lanceolate; 0.8–1.396–2 length of adjacent fertile lemma; hyaline (1), or membranous (23), or chartaceous (1); without keels; 1 -veined (3), or 2 -veined (1), or 3 -veined (10), or 4 -veined (9), or 5 -veined (21), or 6 -veined (9), or 7 -veined (10), or 8–9 -veined (1). Upper glume surface smooth (21), or scabrous (4). Upper glume apex entire, or erose (1), or dentate (2); 2 -fid (2/2); emarginate (1), or obtuse (1), or acute (24), or acuminate (2), or attenuate (2), or setaceously attenuate (7); muticous (24), or mucronate (3), or awned (2); 1 -awned (1/1).

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren (1/1); with palea (1/1). Fertile florets bisexual (24), or female (1). Fertile lemma elliptic; membranous; without keel; wingless; 5–6 -veined (1/24), or 7 -veined (24/24). Lemma midvein eciliate (9), or ciliolate (4), or ciliate (13). Lemma surface smooth (22), or scabrous (3); unwrinkled; without grooves; glabrous (20), or pubescent (2), or pilose (11); hairy on back (7/13), or between veins (6/13). Lemma margins ciliate. Lemma apex entire (1), or dentate (1), or lobed (24); 2 -fid; incised 0.1–0.365–0.5 of lemma length; acute (2/2), or setaceously attenuate (2/2); awned; 1 -awned (15), or 2 -awned (1), or 3 -awned (20). Principal lemma awn apical (1), or from a sinus; straight (1), or curved (8), or geniculate (16). Lateral lemma awns shorter than principal (20/20). Palea 1 length of lemma. Palea keels smooth (24), or scabrous (1); ciliolate. Palea surface glabrous (1), or pilose (24). Palea apex muticous (24), or with excurrent keel veins (1). Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; membranous (24/24); glabrous (1), or ciliate (24). Anthers 2–3 (1/2).

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Embryo 0.33 length of caryopsis. Hilum linear; 0.5–0.54–0.66 length of caryopsis.

MALE Male inflorescence similar to female (1/1).

DISTRIBUTION Australasia.

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