Cyclostachya

HABIT Perennial. Stolons present. Culms erect; 5–15 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane.

INFLORESCENCE Dioecious. Inflorescence composed of racemes; deciduous as a whole.

Racemes single; unilateral. Rhachis flattened. Spikelet packing 2 -rowed.

Spikelets pectinate; solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Male spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels linear.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets lanceolate; dorsally compressed; 6–7 mm long; falling entire; deciduous with accessory branch structures. Floret callus pubescent.

GLUMES Glumes reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume linear; 0.75 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume surface without pits. Lower glume apex attenuate. Upper glume lanceolate; 1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume primary vein ciliate. Upper glume apex attenuate.

FLORETS Fertile florets female. Fertile lemma lanceolate; cartilaginous; keeled; wingless; 3 -veined. Lemma surface unwrinkled; without grooves. Lemma apex awned; 3 -awned. Lateral lemma awns shorter than principal. Palea 0.75 length of lemma; 2 -veined. Palea apex awned. Apical sterile florets 2–3 in number; barren; in a clump; linear. Apical sterile lemmas awned.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; fleshy. Anthers 3.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; fusiform. Embryo 0.66 length of caryopsis.

MALE Male inflorescence similar to female; a single raceme; with pectinate racemes. Male spikelets distinct from female; lanceolate. Male spikelet glumes 2; muticous. Male spikelet lemma muticous.

DISTRIBUTION North America.

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