Cortaderia

HABIT Perennial. Rhizomes absent (19), or short (1). Culms erect (6/6), or geniculately ascending (1/6); robust (2/2); 20–127.7–300 cm long. Lateral branches lacking (12/12). Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades persistent, or deciduous with part of sheath attached (1); herbaceous (15), or coriaceous (5); stiff (8), or firm (12). Leaf-blade apex muticous (18), or pungent (2).

INFLORESCENCE Gynodioecious ("male", in this context, indicating the bisexual state), or dioecious (4). Inflorescence a panicle; exserted (14), or embraced at base by subtending leaf (9).

Panicle open (13), or contracted (6), or spiciform (1).

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Male spikelets pedicelled (4/4). Pedicels filiform (2/2).

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2 fertile florets (6), or 3–4 fertile florets (14), or 5 fertile florets (10), or 6 fertile florets (6), or 7 fertile florets (3), or 8 fertile florets (2), or 9–10 fertile florets (1); with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets linear (1), or lanceolate (7), or oblong (1), or cuneate (11); laterally compressed; 7–13.46–30 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes definite. Floret callus evident (13), or elongated (7); pubescent (1), or pilose (10), or bearded (9).

GLUMES Glumes shorter than spikelet (17), or reaching apex of florets (4), or exceeding apex of florets (2); thinner than fertile lemma (1), or similar to fertile lemma in texture (19); parallel to lemmas (9), or gaping (11). Lower glume linear (6), or lanceolate (15); 0.75–0.9513–1.1 length of upper glume; hyaline (10), or membranous (10); without keels (18/18); 0 -veined (1), or 1 -veined (18), or 2 -veined (2), or 3 -veined (4). Lower glume lateral veins absent (18), or obscure (2), or distinct (2). Lower glume surface smooth (12), or asperulous (8); without pits. Lower glume apex entire, or dentate (8); 2 -fid (8/8); obtuse (2/18), or acute (8/18), or acuminate (3/18), or attenuate (6/18). Upper glume subulate (1), or linear (6), or lanceolate (14); 0.66–1.36–3 length of adjacent fertile lemma; hyaline (10), or membranous (10); without keels (17/17); 0 -veined (1), or 1 -veined (18), or 2 -veined (2), or 3 -veined (4). Upper glume surface smooth (12), or asperulous (8). Upper glume apex entire (18), or dentate (9); 2 -fid (9/9); obtuse (2/17), or acute (7/17), or acuminate (3/17), or attenuate (6/17).

FLORETS Fertile florets female. Fertile lemma linear (2), or lanceolate (14), or ovate (6); hyaline (9), or membranous (11); without keel; wingless; 3 -veined (12/19), or 4 -veined (4/19), or 5 -veined (9/19), or 6 -veined (2/19), or 7 -veined (4/19). Lemma midvein extending to apex (1/1). Lemma lateral veins less than two thirds length of lemma (1/1). Lemma surface smooth (11), or scaberulous (9); unwrinkled; without grooves; glabrous (1), or pilose (1), or villous (8), or plumose (10). Lemma margins eciliate (12), or ciliolate (2), or ciliate (6). Lemma apex entire (8), or dentate (2), or lobed (11); 2 -fid (12/13), or 3 -fid (1/13); incised 0.25–0.4333–0.6 of lemma length; acuminate (9/15), or attenuate (4/15), or setaceously attenuate (2/15); muticous (7), or mucronate (1), or awned (15); 1 -awned (12/15), or 3 -awned (3/15). Principal lemma awn apical (10/15), or from a sinus (5/15); straight (12/15), or curved (2/15), or geniculate (1/15). Lateral lemma awns shorter than principal (2/2). Palea 0.3–0.6419–2 length of lemma; hyaline (10), or membranous (10); 2 -veined (18/18). Palea keels smooth (16), or scabrous (4); eciliate (6), or ciliolate (13), or villous (1). Palea surface glabrous (10), or pubescent (1), or pilose (10). Palea apex entire (1/5), or dentate (5/5). Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; fleshy; glabrous (11), or ciliate (9). Anthers 3 (15/15).

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp (15/15). Hilum elliptic (1/1).

MALE Male inflorescence terminal (1/1); similar to female (17/17); a panicle (13/13). Male spikelets resembling female (8/13), or distinct from female (5/13).

DISTRIBUTION Europe (1), or Africa (2), or Temperate Asia (1), or Tropical Asia (1), or Australasia (2), or Pacific (2), or North America (1), or South America, or Antarctica (1).

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