Eleusine

HABIT Annual (4), or perennial (6). Rhizomes absent (6), or short (4). Culms erect (5), or geniculately ascending (6), or decumbent (2); of moderate stature (1/3), or slender (2/3); 10–69.45–200 cm long; without nodal roots (1/1), or rooting from lower nodes (1/1). Culm-internodes elliptical in section. Lateral branches lacking (1/4), or sparse (2/4), or fastigiate (1/4). Ligule an eciliate membrane (1), or a ciliolate membrane (8), or a ciliate membrane (2). Leaf-blades stiff (1), or firm (9). Leaf-blade margins cartilaginous (1/1).

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes single (1), or digitate; erect (1), or ascending (9), or spreading (5); linear (9), or oblong (3), or ovate (1); unilateral. Rhachis wingless (8), or narrowly winged (1), or broadly winged (1); flattened (9/9); terminating in a spikelet (9), or sterile spikelet (1). Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis; crowded (1), or contiguous (8), or lax (1); 2 -rowed (9/9).

Spikelets appressed (9/9); solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

STERILE SPIKELETS Basal sterile spikelets absent (9), or rudimentary (1), or well-developed (1).

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 3 fertile florets (5), or 4 fertile florets (8), or 5–6 fertile florets (9), or 7 fertile florets (8), or 8–9 fertile florets (7), or 10 fertile florets (3), or 11–13 fertile florets (2), or 14–15 fertile florets (1); with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets elliptic (5), or oblong (2), or ovate (3); laterally compressed; 3–6.545–11 mm long; persistent on plant (1), or breaking up at maturity (9); disarticulating below each fertile floret (9/9). Rhachilla internodes definite.

GLUMES Glumes persistent (9/9); shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate (8), or oblong (2); 0.4–0.67–1 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; wingless (5), or winged on keel (5); 1 -veined (9), or 2–3 -veined (3). Lower glume lateral veins absent (7), or distinct (3). Lower glume surface without pits. Lower glume apex obtuse (2), or acute (9). Upper glume elliptic (6), or oblong (4); 0.6–0.815–0.9 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; wingless (6), or winged on keel (4); 1 -veined (4), or 3 -veined (4), or 5–7 -veined (2). Upper glume apex obtuse (4), or acute (9).

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate (1/1); lanceolate in profile (6/9), or elliptic in profile (1/9), or oblong in profile (3/9), or ovate in profile (1/9); membranous; keeled (1/1); wingless; 3 -veined. Lemma midvein without distinctive roughness (9), or scabrous (1). Lemma surface smooth (9), or scaberulous (1); unwrinkled; without grooves. Lemma margins eciliate, or pilose (2). Lemma apex obtuse (3), or acute (8), or cuspidate (1); muticous, or mucronate (1). Palea 0.66–0.921–1 length of lemma; 2 -veined. Palea keels smooth (4), or scaberulous (4), or scabrous (2). Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; fleshy.

FRUIT Caryopsis with free soft pericarp; ellipsoid (5), or oblong (4), or orbicular (2), or obovoid (1); isodiametric (4/7), or laterally compressed (1/7), or dorsally compressed (2/7); biconvex (1/9), or concavo-convex (1/9), or trigonous (7/9); granular (3), or striate (3), or rugose (6). Embryo 0.3–0.35–0.4 length of caryopsis. Hilum punctiform (1/1).

DISTRIBUTION Europe (6), or Africa, or Temperate Asia (6), or Tropical Asia (2), or Australasia (4), or Pacific (2), or North America (3), or South America (3), or Antarctica (1).

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