Coelachyrum

HABIT Annual (3), or perennial (3). Stolons absent (5), or present (2). Culms erect (1/5), or geniculately ascending (2/5), or decumbent (4/5); 5–36.25–100 cm long; rooting from lower nodes (1/1). Lateral branches ample (1/1). Ligule an eciliate membrane (5), or a ciliolate membrane (1). Leaf-blades linear, or lanceolate (1).

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle (1), or composed of racemes (5).

Panicle open (1/1).

Racemes digitate (2/5), or borne along a central axis (3/5); not compacted (4/5), or in a head (1/5); erect (2/5), or ascending (3/5); linear (4/5), or oblong (1/5); unilateral (5/5); bearing few fertile spikelets (1/5), or many spikelets (4/5); bearing 2–9 fertile spikelets on each (1/1). Rhachis angular (2/4), or subterete (2/4). Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis (5/5); crowded (1/5), or contiguous (4/5); 1 -rowed (1/4), or 2 -rowed (4/4).

Spikelets ascending (1/1); solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile (3), or pedicelled (3). Pedicels linear (1/3), or oblong (2/3).

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 4 fertile florets (1), or 5 fertile florets (2), or 6 fertile florets (4), or 7–8 fertile florets, or 9–10 fertile florets (5), or 11–12 fertile florets (3), or 13–14 fertile florets (2), or 15–16 fertile florets (1); with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets elliptic (2), or ovate (4); laterally compressed; 2.5–5.108–10 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes definite.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate (2), or elliptic (4), or ovate (2); 0.66–0.8392–1 length of upper glume; membranous (5), or herbaceous (1); without keels (5), or 1-keeled (2); 1 -veined (4), or 2 -veined (1), or 3 -veined (3), or 4 -veined (1). Lower glume lateral veins absent (2), or distinct (4); without ribs (3/4), or ribbed (1/4). Lower glume surface without pits. Lower glume apex obtuse (4), or acute (2), or acuminate (1); muticous (5), or mucronate (1). Upper glume elliptic (4), or oblong (2), or ovate (2); 0.75–0.975–1.3 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous (5), or herbaceous (1); without keels (5), or 1-keeled (2); 1–2 -veined (1), or 3 -veined, or 4 -veined (3), or 5–7 -veined (1). Upper glume lateral veins without ribs (5), or ribbed (1). Upper glume apex obtuse (4), or acute (2), or acuminate (1); muticous (3), or mucronate (3), or awned (1); 1 -awned (1/1).

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic (1), or ovate (4), or orbicular (1); membranous (5), or herbaceous (1); without keel (3), or keeled (3); wingless; 3 -veined, or 5 -veined (1). Lemma midvein eciliate (4), or ciliate (2). Lemma lateral veins obscure (1/3), or prominent (1/3), or thickened (1/3); without ribs (5), or ribbed (1). Lemma surface smooth (5), or asperulous (1); unwrinkled; without grooves; glabrous (5), or puberulous (1), or pubescent (1); with simple hairs (1/2), or clavate hairs (1/2). Lemma margins eciliate (4), or ciliate (2). Lemma apex truncate (3), or obtuse (5), or acute (1), or cuspidate (1); muticous (3), or mucronate (5). Palea 0.5–0.8333–1 length of lemma; 2 -veined. Palea keels smooth (5), or scaberulous (1); eciliate (2), or ciliolate (3), or ciliate (1). Palea surface glabrous, or pubescent (1). Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FRUIT Caryopsis with free soft pericarp; ellipsoid (2), or oblong (1), or ovoid (1), or orbicular (1), or reniform (1); flattened; concavo-convex; smooth (1), or granular (1), or rugose (5). Embryo 0.5–0.575–0.7 length of caryopsis.

DISTRIBUTION Africa (5), or Temperate Asia (4), or Tropical Asia (2).

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