Danthonidium

HABIT Annual. Culms erect; 10–60 cm long. Ligule a fringe of hairs.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes single; oblong; paucilateral; bearing few fertile spikelets; bearing 3–10 fertile spikelets on each. Rhachis angular.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets cuneate; laterally compressed; 12–15 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus elongated; bearded; truncate.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma; gaping. Lower glume lanceolate; 1.2–1.3 length of upper glume; chartaceous; without keels; 5 -veined. Lower glume surface without pits. Lower glume apex acuminate; awned. Upper glume lanceolate; 3 length of adjacent fertile lemma; chartaceous; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex acuminate; awned; 1 -awned.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; linear in profile; coriaceous; without keel; wingless; 9 -veined. Lemma surface unwrinkled; without grooves; pubescent; with a transverse fringe of hair. Lemma margins convolute; covering most of palea. Lemma apex lobed; 2 -fid; incised 0.25–0.33 of lemma length; acute; awned; 3 -awned. Principal lemma awn from a sinus; geniculate. Lateral lemma awns shorter than principal. Palea 1 length of lemma; 2 -veined. Palea keels contiguous above a sulcus; ciliate. Palea apex dentate; with excurrent keel veins. Apical sterile florets 1 in number; barren; linear.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; membranous. Anthers 3. Stigmas 2.

DISTRIBUTION Tropical Asia.

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