Coelorachis

HABIT Annual (1), or perennial (21). Rhizomes absent (19), or short (2), or elongated (1). Culms erect (13/13); robust (1/4), or slender (3/4); 10–120.2–400 cm long; firm (21), or wiry (1); with prop roots (1/1). Culm-internodes elliptical in section (3/3). Lateral branches lacking (2/9), or sparse (2/9), or ample (7/9). Ligule an eciliate membrane (12), or a ciliolate membrane (9), or a fringe of hairs (1). Leaf-blades filiform (1), or linear (21), or lanceolate (4); stiff (1), or firm (21). Leaf-blade margins cartilaginous (1/1).

INFLORESCENCE Synflorescence simple (13), or compound (9); paniculate (4/8), or fastigiate (5/8). Inflorescence composed of racemes; terminal (4), or terminal and axillary (18); subtended by an unspecialized leaf-sheath (11), or a spatheole (11); exserted (14), or embraced at base by subtending leaf (9). Spatheole linear (11/11), or lanceolate (1/11). Peduncle widened at apex (9/9).

Racemes single. Rhachis fragile at the nodes; angular (10), or semiterete (12). Rhachis internodes columnar (1), or oblong (2), or clavate (5), or cuneate (13), or pyriform (1); unspecialized (20), or with the lower often bearing triads (2). Rhachis internode tip transverse; flat (1), or crateriform (21).

Spikelets sunken (12), or appressed (10); in pairs (21), or in threes (1). Fertile spikelets sessile; 1 in the cluster (21), or 2 in the cluster (2). Companion sterile spikelets pedicelled; 0 in the cluster (1), or 1 in the cluster. Pedicels free (21), or fused to internode (1); columnar (13), or oblong (7), or clavate (1), or cuneate (1), or inflated (1); tip rectangular (1/14), or cupuliform (13/14).

STERILE SPIKELETS Companion sterile spikelets rudimentary (14), or well-developed (12); persistent (3/21), or deciduous with the fertile (9/21), or fused to and deciduous with fertile spikelet belonging to segment above (1/21), or separately deciduous (9/21). Companion sterile spikelet callus indistinct (21), or square (1).

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic (1), or oblong (10), or ovate (11), or obovate (1); dorsally compressed; 2.158–4.248–7 mm long; falling entire; deciduous with accessory branch structures. Spikelet callus glabrous (4/6), or pubescent (2/6); base truncate; simple (1), or with central peg (21); attached transversely.

GLUMES Glumes reaching apex of florets (1), or exceeding apex of florets (21); firmer than fertile lemma. Lower glume oblong (10), or ovate (11), or obovate (1); not gibbous (21), or gibbous (1); coriaceous (19), or indurate (3); without keels (1), or 2-keeled (21); wingless (2), or winged on keel (20); 3–4 -veined (1/5), or 5 -veined (3/5), or 7 -veined (2/5). Lower glume lateral veins obscure (1), or distinct (21); without ribs (21), or ribbed (1). Lower glume surface convex (19), or flat (2), or concave (1); smooth (14), or with hooked spines (1), or muricate (2), or rugose (1), or cancellate (2), or areolate (5); without pits; glabrous (20), or pubescent (4). Lower glume apex emarginate (7/17), or truncate (1/17), or obtuse (5/17), or acute (4/17), or caudate (1/17). Upper glume lanceolate (1), or oblong (19), or ovate (2); membranous (11), or chartaceous (10), or cartilaginous (1); 1-keeled; wingless (17), or winged on keel (5); 1 -veined (3/12), or 3 -veined (9/12). Upper glume primary vein eciliate (21), or ciliate (1). Upper glume surface glabrous (21), or puberulous (1); without hair tufts (21), or with a dorsal tuft of hair (1). Upper glume apex acute (6/6).

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; with palea (19), or without significant palea (3). Lemma of lower sterile floret lanceolate (1), or oblong (18), or ovate (3); hyaline; 0 -veined (3/7), or 2 -veined (3/7), or 3 -veined (1/7); obtuse (6/6). Fertile lemma lanceolate (1), or elliptic (17), or oblong (1), or ovate (3); hyaline; without keel; wingless; 0 -veined (10/14), or 1 -veined (7/14), or 3 -veined (3/14). Lemma surface unwrinkled; without grooves. Lemma apex obtuse (6/6). Palea 0.8–0.9–1 length of lemma; hyaline (6), or membranous (16).

FLOWER Anthers 3 (9/9). Stigmas 2 (1/1).

DISTRIBUTION Africa (3), or Temperate Asia (2), or Tropical Asia (9), or Australasia (1), or North America (6), or South America (7).

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