Elionurus

HABIT Annual (2), or perennial (13). Rhizomes absent (14), or short (1). Culms erect (14/14); slender (1/1); 5–74.83–200 cm long. Lateral branches lacking (6/14), or sparse (5/14), or ample (5/14), or fastigiate (1/14). Ligule an eciliate membrane (1), or a ciliolate membrane (7), or a fringe of hairs (8). Leaf-blades filiform (2), or linear (13); stiff (2), or firm (12), or flaccid (1); without scent (12), or aromatic (3).

INFLORESCENCE Synflorescence simple (11), or compound (4); scanty (1/2), or paniculate (1/2). Inflorescence composed of racemes; terminal (8), or terminal and axillary (7); subtended by an unspecialized leaf-sheath (8), or an inflated leaf-sheath (5), or a spatheole (2); exserted (11), or embraced at base by subtending leaf (4). Spatheole linear (2/2).

Racemes single. Rhachis fragile at the nodes; subterete. Spikelet packing 2 -rowed (1/1). Rhachis internodes linear. Rhachis internode tip oblique; flat.

Spikelets in pairs. Fertile spikelets sessile; 1 in the cluster. Companion sterile spikelets pedicelled; 1 in the cluster. Pedicels filiform (3), or linear (12); tip rectangular (1/1).

STERILE SPIKELETS Companion sterile spikelets well-developed; deciduous with the fertile. Companion sterile spikelet glumes muticous (5/10), or mucronate (2/10), or awned (5/10).

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate (12), or elliptic (3), or oblong (3), or ovate (1); dorsally compressed; 3–6.586–12 mm long; falling entire; deciduous with accessory branch structures. Spikelet callus square (1), or oblong (1), or cuneate (12), or linear (1); pubescent (12), or pilose (1), or bearded (2); base obtuse (14), or acute (1); attached obliquely.

GLUMES Glumes reaching apex of florets (14), or exceeding apex of florets (1); firmer than fertile lemma. Lower glume oblong (1), or ovate (14); chartaceous; 2-keeled; 5 -veined (2/8), or 6–7 -veined (3/8), or 8 -veined (1/8), or 9 -veined (3/8). Lower glume intercarinal veins distinct (1/1). Lower glume surface convex, or flat (1); without pits; glabrous (11), or puberulous (1), or pubescent (1), or pilose (2), or hirsute (1), or villous (6); without hair tufts (12), or with marginal tufts of hair (3). Lower glume apex entire (8), or dentate (5), or lobed (7); 2 -fid (12/12); obtuse (1/11), or acute (1/11), or acuminate (5/11), or setaceously attenuate (4/11); muticous (11), or awned (4). Upper glume lanceolate (14), or ovate (1); membranous (3/3); 1-keeled; 1–2 -veined (1/8), or 3 -veined (8/8), or 4–5 -veined (1/8). Upper glume primary vein eciliate (13), or ciliate (2). Upper glume surface glabrous (7), or puberulous (3), or pubescent (5), or pilose (2), or hirsute (1), or villous (1), or hispid (1). Upper glume apex obtuse (1), or acute (13), or acuminate (1); muticous, or mucronate (1).

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret lanceolate (5), or elliptic (8), or oblong (2); hyaline; 0 -veined (2/11), or 2 -veined (9/11); acute (4/4). Fertile lemma lanceolate (4), or oblong (11); hyaline; without keel; wingless; 0–1 -veined (1), or 2 -veined (2), or 3 -veined (13). Lemma surface unwrinkled; without grooves. Lemma margins eciliate (12), or ciliolate (3). Lemma apex entire (14), or dentate (1); 3 -fid (1/1); acute (3/3). Palea present (1), or absent or minute (14); 0.25 length of lemma.

FLOWER Anthers 3 (11/11).

DISTRIBUTION Africa (10), or Temperate Asia (2), or Tropical Asia (2), or Australasia (1), or North America (3), or South America (6).

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